Dhinakaran rules out contesting TN assembly polls. slams DMK, Vijay

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T T V Dhinakaran said on Monday that he does not intend to contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, adding that his focus is on ensuring electoral success for leaders of his party. Speaking to reporters in Theni, Dhinakaran said he had already experienced power closely during the tenure of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and now wished to see AMMK members who supported him since the party’s formation in 2018 emerge victorious. The AMMK was formed after his expulsion from the AIADMK.
Dhinakaran, whose party is aligned with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), said he rejoined the alliance to help establish a government in Tamil Nadu inspired by Jayalalithaa’s rule. He said the aim was to defeat the ruling DMK and form an NDA government under All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leadership.
He said the AMMK would be part of an NDA government led by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, adding that he had set aside past differences in the interest of the alliance. Dhinakaran also said he would campaign jointly with Palaniswami during the elections. Referring to the absence of Jayalalithaa, Dhinakaran said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emerged as a guiding force for her followers and would support development and improved prospects for the people of Tamil Nadu.
On former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who was earlier part of the NDA and later expelled from the AIADMK, Dhinakaran said he wished him well but claimed his political setbacks followed decisions taken on poor advice. Responding to criticism from actor Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, who had described the AIADMK as corrupt, Dhinakaran dismissed the remarks, saying the actor made accusations without addressing issues such as black market ticket sales.