Re-alignment of political forces likely in Tamil Nadu

A realignment of political forces appears to be on the cards with the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) founder-general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran following the example of his erstwhile colleague O. Panneerselvam and distancing himself from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

While paying homage to Pulithevan, the 18^th century rebel against the British, in Tenkasi on Monday (September 1, 2025), the AMMK chief stated that in 2024 when his party was a constituent of the NDA, the idea was to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister again. “2026 is different,” he pointed out, adding that by December, his party would decide about the alliance. The immediate provocation for Mr. Dhinakaran’s observation appears to be the “persistent neglect” of his party by the BJP national leadership and its allies in Tamil Nadu.

After the BJP revived its ties with the AIADMK in April, there was no meeting between Mr. Dhinakaran and BJP national leaders. The absence of the AMMK chief or his representative was conspicuous at a recent conference of the Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK), led by John Pandian, in Dindigul on August 24 and at the death anniversary of the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) founder G.K. Moopanar in Chennai a week later. 

“We were not invited for both functions,” says V. Karthikeyan, state secretary of the AMMK advocates’ wing. Wondering why such a treatment is being shown to the AMMK, even though Mr. Dhinakaran had all along maintained his party was a part of the NDA, Mr. Karthikeyan recalls his party had “strongly backed” Mr. John Pandian, who contested unsuccessfully on the symbol of the BJP in Tenkasi during the 2024 Lok Sabha election and secured about 2.08 lakh votes.

On Saturday (August 30), AIADMK former interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala, issued a statement, in which she renewed her call for unity. This had surprised many as the statement itself did not give any indication regarding the context in which it was issued. 

On Tuesday (September 2, 2025) morning, former School Education Minister and AIADMK veteran K.A. Sengottaiyan, who has been maintaining a low profile, told journalists at Gobichettypalayam in Erode district that he would meet them on Friday (September 5) to “speak my mind.”  In February, he did not attend a function organised by a body of farmers to felicitate the AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami at Annur in Coimbatore district as the images of former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa were not featured in the invitation and banners put up for the event. Two months later, he gave the indication of having sorted out his differences with Mr. Palaniswami and stated that the AIADMK was “on the right path” within the organisation. However, in early July, when Mr. Palaniswami launched his State-wide tour, Mr. Sengottaiyan was not present.

As for the ADMK Workers’ Rights Retrieval Committee coordinator O. Panneerselvam, he made it clear on Monday (September 1) that he had come out of the NDA. He also welcomed the statement of Ms. Sasikala and said this had been his stand too. A. Subburathinam, secretary of the state election wing of the Committee, says the immediate priority of Mr. Panneerselvam is to strengthen the party by unifying all. 

As the AIADMK general secretary has been very firm in not accommodating Mr. Panneerselvam, Mr. Dhinakaran and Ms. Sasikala,  the latest developments have led to the speculation about the possibility of a meeting among the three and Mr. Sengottaiyan. It remains to be seen whether the leaders will have a tie up with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by Vijay.