AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran said the reasons for exiting the NDA were due to persistent neglect and treatment of former Chief Minister and former coordinator of AIADMK O. Panneerselvam by Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran. Due to this treatment, Mr. Panneerselvam quit the NDA, he said.
Addressing journalists in Madurai on Saturday, Mr. Dhinakaran said it was the former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai who had got AMMK into the NDA. They worked cordially. However, the removal of Mr. Annamalai from the post of the BJP president was a shock to him and the AMMK, he said.
Mr. Annamalai was able to handle the alliance smoothly while Mr. Nagendran was not able to handle it with efficiency, he said, adding that the purpose of AMMK joining the NDA was to ensure that Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister for the third time.
Mr. Dhinakaran said the treatment of Mr. Panneerselvam, who has quit the NDA, by Mr. Nagendran had upset him. He felt that he too could be treated the same way if he was a part of the NDA, he said, adding that the decision to quit the NDA was taken after decisions with the party office-bearers.
He appreciated the attempts taken by senior AIADMK leader K.A. Sengottaiyan towards unifying the AIADMK factions.
He said that the alliance that he would be a part of will win the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections in 2026. He said that he would announce their decision regarding the alliance in December. However, AMMK’s first choice was the NDA, he said.
Published – September 06, 2025 09:56 pm IST
