As Tamil Nadu braces for assembly polls, AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran has poured cold water on speculations surrounding VK Sasikala’s return to the NDA alliance. In a candid statement from Chennai on Saturday, he clarified that no such move is on the cards.
The announcement follows Dhinakaran’s high-profile Delhi trip earlier this week. He engaged in key conversations with BJP heavyweights, including a Saturday meeting with Amit Shah and prior talks with Piyush Goyal, the party’s Tamil Nadu overseer.
Observers view these interactions as critical to NDA’s election strategy. Insider reports suggest the dialogues delved into seat allocations, priority seats, and AMMK’s symbol usage in the campaign.
Dismissing hype around seat deals, Dhinakaran told media, ‘Our chat with Shah was about electoral unity, not specifics on seats.’
On Sasikala, his position was unequivocal: no plans to accommodate her in the coalition. This shuts down prospects for the ex-AIADMK coordinator’s NDA involvement anytime soon.
Dhinakaran didn’t hold back criticism of the DMK regime, asserting Delhi trips by opposition figures rattle them. He touted central aid to the state—Rs 12 lakh crore in 12 years—and promised seamless fund flows under NDA influence.
Parallel moves include Anbumani Ramadoss’s anticipated Shah meeting, underscoring multi-party NDA coordination. Goyal’s rescheduled Chennai arrival on Sunday hints at intensifying preparations.
With formal alliance pacts pending these preliminaries, Tamil Nadu’s opposition is aligning for a formidable challenge to the incumbents, potentially reshaping the state’s power dynamics.