Ruling out the possibility of the AMMK’s return to the NDA, he reiterated that, so long as EPS is the Chief Ministerial candidate of the NDA, the question does not arise.
File Photo: IANS
Needling the AIADMK of being desperate for a tie-up with film star-turned politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran on Saturday predicted that the 2026 assembly election would witness a new alliance under the actor, taking on the ruling DMK.
“AIADMK is desperate to team up with Vijay’s TVK, and Edappadi K Palaniswami appears prepared for it. However, a new alliance is expected to emerge under Vijay’s leadership, making the election a four-cornered contest. Which parties will be part of this combine will become clear in the days to come,” he told reporters at Singaperumal Kovil, near Chennai.
Advertisement
“Already, the DMK and the NDA are in the fray besides the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) of Seeman, a Tamil nationalist. But EPS has betrayed his desperation when he said that a few TVK flags in one of his rallies, obviously held by AIADMK men, heralded a new beginning. We know who had come with the TVK flags. It looks like EPS is attempting to join hands with Vijay, taking advantage of the Karur tragedy, following which the TVK has turned into silent mode,” he added.
Advertisement
Ruling out the possibility of the AMMK’s return to the NDA, he reiterated that, so long as EPS is the Chief Ministerial candidate of the NDA, the question does not arise.
“We will not accept EPS as the Chief Ministerial face of the NDA. Till he is replaced, there is no need for any reconsideration of our decision to walk out of the NDA,” he made it clear.
The AMMK deserted the NDA, close on the heels of former Deputy Chief Minister and rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam, leaving the saffron combine following his marginalisation in the alliance after the return of the AIADMK under EPS into the NDA.
Meanwhile, the TVK has instructed its functionaries and cadre not to have any Diwali celebration as a mark of respect to the victims of the September 27 stampede at Karur during the rally of Vijay.
“As we mourn the loss of our loved ones due to the unexpected incident in Karur, we request that no one associated with the party should celebrate Diwali this year. Our leader has instructed us to avoid Diwali celebrations as a tribute to those who have departed from us,” read a statement released by TVK general secretary Bussy N Anand.
“Let’s honour their memory and stand together in silence and respect,” the party said in a post on X.
The party is yet to recover from the shock of the ghastly Karur tragedy, but has not held any memorial meeting for the 41 victims, including children and women, either at its headquarters or elsewhere, inviting criticism. And Vijay, who is yet to meet the families of the victims, has sought adequate police protection to visit Karur.
Advertisement
