Chennai: AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami has informed BJP national leadership that his party had no objections to AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran joining the NDA, a significant shift after years of animosity between the parties, highly placed sources told TOI. In Chennai, Dhinakaran told reporters that an announcement regarding his alliance would come from the “leader of the alliance”.AIADMK sources said Palaniswami, who heads the NDA in Tamil Nadu, conveyed to the BJP national leadership his party was not averse to Dhinakaran joining the alliance. A senior AIADMK leader said, “Dhinakaran’s party is a separate entity, and we have no objection to his inclusion. We will be happy if he joins the NDA. The BJP will be responsible for deciding the seat allocation for the AMMK.”While close associates of Palaniswami described talks with Dhinakaran as “positive”, the AMMK chief could not be reached for comment. The AIADMK leader, however, differentiated Dhinakaran’s situation from that of former AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam, who was expelled and is engaged in a battle against the AIADMK leadership before the Election Commission and courts.In a recent interaction with TOI, Dhinakaran said he did not have any personal interest in poll tie-ups, and any decision would prioritize interests of people and his party. “At my party’s general council meeting, I made it clear there is no friend or foe or betrayer for my party at this juncture (election),” he said. Dhinakaran was also in contact with Vijay’s TVK for a potential alliance for 2026 assembly election. A senior TVK leader is believed to have visited Dhinakaran and expressed willingness to team up with him.AIADMK sources said Palaniswami had planned to welcome AMMK into the alliance during his election campaign launch in Tindivanam in July, but it did not materialise. “Palaniswami was firm against re-inducting expelled members when a delegation of six senior former ministers, including K A Sengottaiyan, pressured him in July last year. Now, Palaniswami is amenable to Dhinakaran being part of the alliance,” said another leader.On Saturday, Dhinakaran said he was keen on the “right place and position” for his party functionaries and supporters who were loyal to him. Meanwhile, Panneerselvam told reporters that he would decide on an alliance within two days. He did not receive an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s NDA event in Chennai.(With inputs from Shanmugha Sundaram J)
