TTV Dhinakaran quits BJP-led NDA ahead of Tamil Nadu elections

In a big setback for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) chief TTV Dhinakaran has announced that his party is withdrawing from the alliance ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

Dhinakaran said, “We are no longer part of the BJP-led NDA. The party will decide on new alliance members in December. »

The development came just two days after Dhinakaran reportedly expressed disappointment over his party’s neglect since the BJP restored its electoral ties with the AIADMK. Recently, former chief minister O Panneerselvam also felt neglected by the BJP and severed his ties with the NDA.
Speaking to reporters at Kattumannarkoil in Cuddalore, Dhinakaran, himself an expelled AIADMK leader, said, “This movement (AMMK) was started against the betrayal of some people. We thought they would transform or be transformed, but nothing happened…we are not stupid to carry them on our shoulders. We waited for a few months waiting for those in Delhi (BJP) to make a good decision, but nothing seems to happen. is happening.”

The AMMK had contested unsuccessfully in Theni and Tiruchirappalli as part of the NDA coalition in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Dhinakaran tried his luck from Theni.