Dhinakaran exits NDA; Amit Shah asks T.N. BJP leaders to exercise restraint

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) night announced his party was exiting the NDA in Tamil Nadu.

Only two days ago, he had shared his disappointment over the persistent neglect of his party ever since the BJP revived its electoral ties with the AIADMK. Significantly, his decision came on a day when BJP’s key electoral strategist and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had at an internal party meeting sought to mend relations.

Recently, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam had also felt let down by the BJP and severed ties with the NDA.

Speaking to reporters after participating in the marriage function of a party functionary at Kattumannarkovil, Mr. Dhinakaran said he maintained patience over the years only to ensure all cadre and followers of Amma (late Jayalalithaa) formed part of an alliance. But after realising that there was no headway, the AMMK had decided to leave the alliance for the 2026 Assembly elections.

“Betrayal is dancing with abandon”, he said, adding the cadre of AMMK could not bear it any longer. The party had decided to go its own way while endorsing the sentiments of the cadre. The AMMK will make its stand clear [on alliance] in December, he said.

Mr. Dhinakaran reiterated that the AMMK had unconditionally joined the NDA during the 2024 Parliamentary elections only to ensure that Narendra Modi returned as Prime Minister for the third time. But the upcoming Assembly elections in 2026 will decide the destiny of Tamil Nadu, he said.

‘Strengthen party in T.N.’

Mr. Amit Shah on Wednesday (September 3, 2025) met with the core group of the State party unit at his residence in New Delhi and urged them to not comment on testy issues like such as the differences between the AIADMK leadership and Mr. Panneerselvam and Mr. Dhinakaran. Instead, he asked them to concentrate on strengthening the party organisation and coordination with AIADMK on the ground.

Former State unit chief K. Annamalai’s absence was conspicuous at the meeting, which was attended among others by Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran, BJP Mahila Morcha national chief Vanathi Srinivasan, and senior leader Tamilsai Soundararajan. In Chennai, Mr. Annamalai said he had committed to attending a wedding and hence could not travel to Delhi.

“The high command made it very clear that no one from the State unit or local leadership need add to any commentary on issues like such as OPS, Mr. Dhinakaran, or even the situation within the PMK (the estrangement between the party founder S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani). Instead, we need to shore up our organisational preparedness for the upcoming Assembly polls,” said a senior office bearer of the BJP.

The core group was asked to identify Assembly seats where the BJP might contest in alliance with the AIADMK in 2026, although no number was provided. “Other than that we have been asked to organise regional conferences, set up booth level committees, and, importantly, set up local coordination committees with the alliance partners,” said a source. No discussion with regard to the issues to be raised in the elections was held, added sources.

(Inputs from Nistula Hebbar in New Delhi)