T.T.V. Dhinakaran hits out at Palaniswami and Nainar Nagenthran

Attacking both AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran as “opportunists and autocratic”, AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who recently exited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), said on Sunday that his party would not back Mr. Palaniswami as Chief Minister candidate.

Addressing journalists in Sivagangai, he said that when Union Home Minister Amit Shah attempted to mobilise like-minded parties in the NDA front and even suggested the Chief Minister candidate would be from the AIADMK, Mr. Palaniswami hesitated to speak with the leaders of the front, including him. “If such was his reservation, how can we stand by him?” he asked.

Coming down heavily on Mr. Nagenthran for not responding to a phone call from expelled AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam [for an appointment to meet the Prime Minister during his visit to Tamil Nadu], Mr. Dhinakaran said it showed the true colours of the BJP leader. “After neglecting the phone call, now Mr. Nagenthran says he will patch-up to remain in the NDA.”

Asked about claims that he and Mr. Panneerselvam had left the NDA at the behest of former BJP State president K. Annamalai, Mr. Dhinakaran said this was the wild imagination of some people who had no knowledge of politics. He alleged that the AMMK cadre would not get along well with the AIADMK cadre as they were fed up of the way Mr. Palaniswami was treating the partymen. “The AIADMK may have money, a popular symbol, and may even woo functionaries from the AMMK, but the cadre would remain intact in the party,” he asserted.

According to him, supporting Mr. Palaniswami would be suicidal. He reiterated that when Mr. Annamalai was heading the BJP’s State unit, alliance partners had a cordial relationship with him. “The present BJP State president thinks that they can win with just the support of Mr. Palaniswami. Take it from me, this is not going to happen, and the AIADMK will lose the upcoming election.” he added.

He was disappointed only with Mr. Palaniswami and a few others in the AIADMK and would welcome others. In the interest of the AMMK, a good decision would be taken soon, he said but stressed that even if Mr. Annamalai sought support for Mr. Palaniswami, he would not “commit the mistake”.

To a query, he said closer to the election, a new alliance is possible, and the prospects are looking bright. Once formed, the front with the AMMK as constituent will emerge victorious, he added.