‘AMMK to remain a separate entity; won’t merge with AIADMK': Chief Dhinakaran

After much posturing, he finally joined the AIADMK-led NDA in January 2026 at the insistence of the BJP and his party, AMMK, is contesting 11 seats. Dhinakaran spoke to E T B Sivapriyan.

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, nephew of V K Sasikala, is one of the most articulate politicians in Tamil Nadu. Dhinakaran launched the AMMK in 2018, months after he was expelled from the AIADMK and challenged his parent party in three successive elections by rebelling against its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami.  

18 MLAs owed allegiance to him at the height of the rebellion, but the then Speaker P Dhanapal disqualified all of them, thus paving the way for the smooth continuance of the government led by EPS from 2017 to 2019.  

After much posturing, Dhinakaran finally joined the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in January 2026 at the insistence of the BJP and his party, AMMK, is contesting 11 seats.  

In a free-wheeling interview with DH’s E.T.B. Sivapriyan, Dhinakaran spoke about why he joined the NDA, whether him contesting the R K Nagar by-polls was one of the reasons for the rift in the AIADMK, will he ever merge his AMMK with AIADMK, and his aunt Sasikala fielding candidates. Edited excerpts:  

Q: Since launching AMMK in 2018, you have maintained that you will never have any truck with the AIADMK. But you have now joined the NDA; was there any pressure from the BJP? 

A: You must be aware that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had attempted to bring the AMMK into the NDA during the 2021 assembly elections itself, but his efforts did not bear fruit then. Now it has happened. We have also realized that the AMMK contesting alone is one of the reasons why the AIADMK was not able to re‑establish Amma’s (J Jayalalithaa) rule in 2021. It is with the intention of bringing the AIADMK back to power that I accepted Shah’s advice and joined the NDA. We also do not want the DMK government to come back for a consecutive term. There is no rule of law in Tamil Nadu, as the state is stuck under a family‑run regime that does not care about anyone. There is no safety for women, and a drug culture has taken root in almost every village. 

Q: It looks like you and AIADMK general secretary EPS have made peace with each other. But do you think the cadres of AIADMK and AMMK will work together on the ground? Do you think the animosity has come down or vanished? 

A: One has to understand that we were all together as Amma’s children in the AIADMK. Wherever I go, AIADMK leaders come to meet me, and I can see cadres of all constituents of the NDA working together in the field. 

Moreover, almost all of those fielded by the AMMK had held positions within the AIADMK before the split. It is common for brothers to fight over certain things, but it is also natural for them to make peace after a point in time.  

Since 2021, when both parties lost, there has been an opinion in the rank and file of both parties that there should either be a merger or at least an alliance.  

From Chennai to Kanyakumari, the AIADMK and AMMK have gelled with each other and are working for the alliance’s victory. The only difference I see is that my 11 candidates, who had contested under the Two Leaves symbol, are now contesting on our own Pressure Cooker symbol. 

Q: Is your entry into NDA is a first step towards the AMMK merging with the AIADMK? 

A: It is not about merger or no merger. We have been running a party in the name of Amma for the past eight years, and we have held a flag bearing her image for the past eight years. So, for us, folding up the flag and merging with our parent party will be troubling at the emotional level. We cannot fold up the AMMK’s flag bearing her image; its unacceptable to us. The AMMK will continue to be a separate entity. 

Q: There is also speculation that you might capture the AIADMK eventually… 

A: Where does the need arise for such a thing? EPS has been accepted by everyone in the AIADMK and has been duly elected by them as their general secretary. I don’t think anybody would want to disturb that arrangement. I have no such intention (of capturing the AIADMK), and I never came into politics for positions. It was Amma who made me an MP and the treasurer in the AIADMK, and I never asked for them. My only point is that we don’t want to fold up our flag, and I believe that this alone puts all speculation to rest. 

Q: You are not contesting the 2026 assembly polls. Was this decision taken to give comfort to EPS that you won’t come in his way and give him a free hand? 

A: Absolutely. I have always believed that there cannot be two swords in one sheath. And I also believe that my contesting from the R K Nagar polls after Amma’s death was one of the reasons for several problems that plagued the AIADMK.  

I want this relationship to be cordial and hence I want to make EPS and everyone in the AIADMK comfortable. I believe that those who concede and yield will not be lost, and in that earnest, I decided to stay out of the contest.  

I strongly believe there is no end in politics and that some positions might come and knock at me at a later stage. I might get opportunities to contest many elections. In this election, our only aim is to bring back Amma’s rule. 

Q: There is an opinion that the NDA is an alliance of contradiction? Why do you think people will vote for your alliance?  

A: We believe the people of Tamil Nadu will send the evil force (DMK) packing. Problems are aplenty, as the Stalin government increased the property tax by 150 per cent and electricity tariffs by 67 per cent, which has affected every section of society.  

MSMEs are the worst affected, and everyone knows that people fear for their safety. Drug abuse and the easy availability of drugs are major issues across the state, and people bring up this topic with me during my campaign trail.  

People are preparing to throw this government out, but the DMK believes they can change the result by bribing people. It won’t happen. This is a natural alliance. AIADMK, BJP, and PMK have contested elections together in the past. This time, AMMK has joined. We are also Amma’s children like those in the AIADMK. 

Q: Will new players like your aunt V K Sasikala affect the chances of the AIADMK alliance? Also, many of your supporters have left you for other parties and there is an opinion that the AMMK is now much weaker than it was in 2021.  

A: The contest is between the alliances led by the DMK and the AIADMK, and others won’t make much impact. It is true that some of my party functionaries have left, but most of them left because they did not get tickets to contest. Some people who benefited from these leaders have gone with them, and I don’t deny the fact, but our party’s strength remains the same. 

Q: When bringing your party into the NDA, it is said that it was to unite the Mukulathor votes, as that will strengthen the AIADMK alliance. Do you think you will be able to achieve the goal? 

A: AMMK candidates are contesting across the state, and of the 11 candidates, only four are Mukulathors, while the rest are from different communities.  

I have given opportunities to three people from the Dalit community. We fielded candidates belonging to different communities in all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in 2019. It is true that our party structure is strong in the Delta and southern Tamil Nadu, where we have considerable support from Mukulathors. But that was not the only reason for the AMMK to be inducted into the NDA. 

Q: What is your opinion on Vijay, and who will he affect, the DMK or AIADMK? 

A: I keep repeating that had Vijay stitched together a strong alliance, the impact would have been different. But with Vijay contesting alone, I think he will hurt the DMK more, just as Vijayakanth hurt the AIADMK (then the ruling party) more when he launched his party in 2006.  

We strongly believe that the anti‑establishment votes will come our way. But the fact remains that the DMK is scared of Vijay, and we can see that from their activities.