Cadre see AIADMK-AMMK coming together as positive signal in southern districts

Cadre of the AIADMK and AMMK in southern districts are in an upbeat mood following the reunion of the two parties under the aegis of the NDA to fight the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

In the southern region, the AIADMK had traditionally enjoyed the backing of the Mukkulathor community. However, after Edappadi K. Palaniswami assumed charge as general secretary, the AIADMK was believed to have lost that advantage. Electoral outcomes in constituencies such as Melur, Thirumangalam and Usilampatti in Madurai district; Andipatti in Theni; Mudukalathur in Ramanathapuram; and several seats in Virudhunagar district reflected this setback. The period also witnessed intense campaigning, with incidents of violence reported during the visits of senior leaders.

With AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s return to the NDA fold, AIADMK cadre believe the alliance has regained much-needed strength.

“In an Assembly election, even a few hundred or a few thousand votes can decide the outcome in a close contest,” said a party functionary, citing Andipatti as an example. In the last election, the DMK secured 44.9% of the vote, while the AIADMK polled 40.8% and the AMMK 5.7%, enabling the DMK to win the seat. The coming together of the AIADMK and the AMMK, cadre say, has already boosted morale on the ground.

Another key factor highlighted by AIADMK functionaries in the southern districts is Mr. Dhinakaran provides the alliance with a recognisable “Mukkulathor face.”

The Tiruvadanai constituency in Ramanathapuram district is cited as a classic example: in the 2021 election, the combined vote share of the AIADMK and the AMMK stood at 49.2%, compared to the DMK’s 39.5%.

A similar pattern was seen in Mudukalathur Assembly constituency, where the combined AIADMK–AMMK vote share was 45.7%, marginally behind the DMK’s 46.2%. Party functionaries argued that independent candidates had siphoned off several thousand votes at the time, indirectly benefiting the DMK. This time, they said, the party leadership would ensure vote consolidation and avoid splits.

In Thirumangalam constituency in Madurai district, the AIADMK polled 1,00,338 votes and the AMMK secured 13,780 votes, against the DMK’s 86,251 in 2021. Likewise, in Usilampatti, the AIADMK received 71,255 votes, the AMMK 55,491 votes, while the DMK polled 63,778.

In the forthcoming election, AIADMK functionaries said, the NDA front is confident of widening its margin over its principal opponent.

However, DMK managers dismissed these claims, asserting that the party would win “hands down” on the strength of its governance record and the support of its allies in the southern districts. They contended the AIADMK and the AMMK had been compelled to reunite under pressure from BJP leaders, and internal cracks between the two parties in southern Tamil Nadu remained “severe.”

Southern Tamil Nadu, comprising 10 districts from Theni to Kanniyakumari, accounts for 58 Assembly constituencies: Dindigul (7), Ramanathapuram (4), Sivaganga (4), Tirunelveli (5), Virudhunagar (7), Kanniyakumari (6), Madurai (10), Tenkasi (5), Theni (4) and Thoothukudi (6).