CHENNAI: Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) chief TTV Dhinakaran on Monday remarked that “in elections, victory alone matters beyond betrayal and enmity.” This apparently contradicts his earlier position calling for the defeat of “betrayal,” referring to his opposition to AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami as the CM face of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming polls, signalling a pragmatic shift in rhetoric.
Addressing the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam’s General Council and Executive Committee meetings, planned on a day when BJP master strategist Amit Shah was in Tiruchy for a Pongal event, Dhinakaran asserted in Thanjavur that his party would be part of a coalition government.
He hinted at a potential alliance with parties willing to share power.
This leaves the window open to actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which is vouching for a coalition government under its leadership if it wins, and to the BJP, which is also keen on a coalition government and is building pressure on AIADMK to share power.
Meanwhile, Dhinakaran appeared to take a veiled dig at former ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), hitting out at communal politics.
In his speech in Thanjavur, Dhinakaran stressed that people should not be divided along religious or caste lines—a comment widely interpreted as a criticism of the BJP’s politics. Dhinakaran’s remarks gain importance amid ongoing speculation about his party’s alliance strategy.
He quit the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) earlier, rejecting its decision to project Edappadi K Palaniswami as the chief ministerial face. Despite the BJP's continued efforts to woo him back, Dhinakaran has withheld a final announcement on his new coalition partner. But now he has openly declared that victory matters and not enmity
Notably, Dhinakaran had previously promised a final decision on alliances by the end of December. With that deadline passed, his statements today have drawn the keen attention of political observers. The General Council has formally authorised him to take the final call on the matter.