Days after Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK) announced its exit from the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu, party chief TTV Dhinakaran criticized state BJP president Nainar Nagendran, claiming he lacked the ability to manage the coalition effectively.
Dhinakaran contrasted Nagendran’s leadership with that of former BJP state chief K Annamalai, under whom he said the alliance was “handled properly.”
“The BJP state president may have thought that our party is small. As long as Annamalai was the BJP state president, the alliance was handled properly. But Nainar Nagendran does not know how to handle the alliance properly,” Dhinakaran said at a press conference.
However, he clarified that the AMMK’s decision to quit the NDA was not directly because of Nagendran, but due to demands from within his own party. “Our decision to leave the alliance was because of pressure from our cadres,” he explained.
The AMMK chief reiterated that his party had joined the NDA only with the intention of helping Narendra Modi become Prime Minister. He noted that the parliamentary and assembly elections must be viewed differently, adding that the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election required a separate strategy.
Dhinakaran also renewed his criticism of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, urging Jayalalithaa’s supporters to unite against him. “If Jayalalithaa’s supporters unite under one front, it will be good for her legacy. Otherwise, coming to power will remain only a dream,” he said.
Looking ahead, Dhinakaran hinted that AMMK would decide its alliances based on future political equations. “We will align ourselves with the coalition that is set to form the government,” he added.
The AMMK’s withdrawal marks a significant political shift in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 polls.