TTV Dinakaran predicts Vijay will influence 2026 polls, wants OPS reinstated in NDA

CHENNAI: AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran expressed confidence on Thursday that actor Vijay and his party TVK would create political ripples in Tamil Nadu in the 2026 Assembly polls, which would be on par with the impact of actor Vijayakant in the 2006 Assembly election.

Speaking to reporters in Thanjavur, Dhinakaran stated that actor Vijay has been impressing the masses in Tamil Nadu. Ground reports say that Vijay’s TVK would play a vital role in the upcoming Assembly election, he said, adding that “We should not deny the fact that the actor Vijay would become an unavoidable force after the 2026 election on par with the actor Vijayakant after the 2006 elections. But it does not mean that AMMK would have an alliance with TVK,” Dhinakaran said.

He said that the alliance would be decided in December; until then, the basic works, including strengthening the party infrastructure, would be underway. “We felt the need for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to return to power again during the 2024 Lok Sabha election for the protection of the country, and so we supported the BJP,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dhinakaran stated that it was unfortunate that the former Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, had left the NDA. “The NDA leaders should pacify and bring him back to the alliance, which would add strength,” he claimed.

Dhinaakaran also expressed his willingness to unite the devout fans of MGR and Jayalalithaa to work together against the ‘evil force’ of DMK. However, he asserted that the AMMK cadres would never join AIADMK at any cost.

He added that the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was the most powerful woman politician, having implemented several welfare schemes to benefit the poor, women, and children. Jaya had also launched several flagship programmes that were followed by neighbouring states, and so the cadre should never allow anyone to criticise her in any form, he said.