Annamalai’s meeting with Dhinakaran sparks speculation of AMMK’s return to NDA

Former BJP state president K Annamalai had an hour-long meeting with Amma Makkal Munntera Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, sparking speculation of the AMMK’s return to the NDA combine.

Annamalai is the first BJP leader to walk the extra mile to meet the sulking Dhinakaran, who had left the NDA following his marginalisation after the re-entry of the AIADMK under Edappadi K Palaniswamy (EPS) into the saffron combine in Tamil Nadu and his projection as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the 2026 assembly election. He and rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) have deserted the NDA in close succession after their long wait for the BJP national leadership to facilitate their re-induction into the AIADMK turned futile.

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The meeting took place at the residence of Dhinakaran in Chennai late on Sunday night and lasted for more than an hour. It is believed that Annamalai had strongly requested Dhinakaran to reconsider his decision to quit the NDA and return to the saffron fold.

Dhinakaran, while training his guns on BJP state president for the chaos in the NDA and accusing him of lacking the capability to carry along all constituents, has praised Annamalai’s leadership besides crediting him with bringing the AMMK into the NDA for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Despite walking out of the NDA, Dhinakaran displays a soft heart for the BJP national leadership, avoiding any criticism of the Union Government.

With OPS and Dhinakaran reportedly moving closer to actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), it remains to be seen whether mission Annamalai can succeed.