AMMK Chief TTV Dhinakaran announced on Monday that his party will extend unconditional support to the BJP for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Speaking to reporters, Dhinakaran confirmed the alliance between AMMK and BJP, stating that TN BJP President K Annamalai and BJP leader Kishan Reddy had contacted him, and he conveyed the party's support to the BJP-led alliance.
Despite being unable to meet the BJP leaders in person on Monday due to being out of Chennai, Dhinakaran, who is also the nephew of the AIADMK's former interim General Secretary VK Shashikala, revealed that discussions had been ongoing for about three months, with the BJP reaching out to AMMK for the past six months, news agency PTI reported.
Expressing confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's potential third term, Dhinakaran pledged that AMMK would contribute to the BJP's victory in Tamil Nadu, likening their role to that of a 'squirrel', according to PTI's report.
On the issue of seat-sharing, Dhinakaran assured that AMMK's demands would be reasonable, emphasising that there were no disputes over the number of constituencies allotted to his party or the choice of Lok Sabha segments for their candidates.
Addressing concerns about contesting on the BJP's lotus symbol, Dhinakaran stated that there was no pressure on AMMK to do so. Responding to another query, he emphasised that if policies and ideologies aligned, separate political parties were not necessary, and the understanding between parties was confined to electoral purposes, the report mentioned.
Earlier, news agency IANS reported that AMMK had requested four to six seats from the BJP to join the NDA in Tamil Nadu. Citing Party sources, IANS stated that TTV Dhinakaran insisted on contesting from the Thevar community strongholds in south Tamil Nadu.
According to the IANS report, the AMMK, in addition to these four seats, was said to have demanded Madurai and Tirunelveli seats also from the BJP.
The AMMK is a breakaway group of AIADMK with the strong backing of the powerful Thevar community of south Tamil Nadu.
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O Panneerselvam Announced Alliance With AMMK
Previously, expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam announced on January 3 that rebel AIADMK leaders would join hands with TTV Dinakaran-led AMMK.
Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Panneerselvam said, "Since senior leaders appeal we have formed a team to bring back some of the AIADMK cadres and we are moving in it," as quoted by ANI.
Panneerselvam emphasised the importance of selecting booth agents for every assembly constituency and asserted the party's aim for victory in upcoming elections.
Healso revealed ongoing communication with the BJP leadership, questioning the AIADMK's position on potential leadership changes within the party.
"The BJP leadership has been in regular touch with me (in recent times). Will the AIADMK accept if the BJP asks for replacing (AIADMK general secretary) Palaniswami? Will they replace him? Then how can they ask to change BJP State Leadership? What rights do they have?", Panneerselvam said, as quoted by ANI.