TTV Dhinakaran's AMMK Set to Rejoin NDA Ahead of Modi Rally in Tamil Nadu

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The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), led by TTV Dhinakaran, is poised to rejoin the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of a rally led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tamil Nadu on January 23. Sources close to the matter confirmed on Monday that AMMK will participate in the rally, marking a potential return to the alliance after a year-long hiatus. The development comes as BJP's election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Piyush Goyal, is set to visit the state on Wednesday to finalize pacts with allies, including the AIADMK, which has named Edappadi Palaniswami as its chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly elections. AMMK had quit the NDA in September last year, citing the BJP's perceived favoritism towards AIADMK's EPS. However, several BJP leaders had since urged them to return, with Dhinakaran reportedly considering a condition that EPS not be the CM candidate. In a significant turn of events, Dhinakaran has now conveyed his decision to attend the PM's rally, paving the way for AMMK's potential re-entry into the NDA. While AMMK's stance against EPS remains unchanged, the party's functionaries will attend the rally, which will be held in Madhuranthagam, about 70 km from Chennai. The move is seen as a significant boost to the NDA ahead of the assembly elections, where the ruling DMK leads the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). The BJP has been trying to strengthen its ties with regional parties, including the AIADMK and AMMK, to put up a united opposition against the DMK. The rally will be the first time NDA leaders share a stage since the AIADMK and BJP revived their ties in April last year. The move is expected to send a strong signal of the NDA's unity and determination to take on the ruling DMK in the upcoming elections.