The launch of Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam comes weeks after actors Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth took the political plunge and amid the continued political churn in Tamil Nadu.
Bengaluru: Almost three months after his thumping victory in the R.K. Nagar by-election in Tamil Nadu, sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran has floated his own party — Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam (AMMK).
This comes weeks after actor Kamal Haasan launched his political outfit and superstar Rajinikanth made it public that his party would contest in the 2021 assembly elections.
Clearly, Dhinakaran has locked horns with chief minister E. Palaniswamy and Deputy CM O. Paneerselvam as he has repeatedly pointed out that the present government has not been following Jayalalitha’s system of governance and that he is the only alternative.
His confidence comes from the fact that he has the backing of 18 expelled AIADMK legislators and another four who recently pledged their support to him. With the total of 22 MLAs in his favour, Dhinakaran has floated his party on the promise that he will challenge the existence of the already fragile AIADMK.
“All of you know how difficult it has been in the past six months without a symbol and name. The Election Commission had given the verdict in favour of the betrayers EPS and OPS,” Dhinakaran said addressing a public meeting in Madurai Thursday.
“You all know what has transpired in the past four months in our state. Even during the R.K. Nagar bypolls, I was forced to contest as an independent candidate under the ‘cooker’ symbol. But people had voted unanimously and today I stand in front of you,” he added.
Poised to be a game changer
Dhinakaran is a force that the AIADMK cannot ignore in the current political scenario. With his large support base, he is expected to cut into the AIADMK’s vote bank. The party for decades has been campaigning on the legacy of Jayalaithaa and her mentor M.G. Ramachandran. Actor Rajinikanth, who is currently on a spiritual trip to the Himalayas, also invoked the MGR legacy while announcing that his party would contest in all 234 assembly constituencies.
But Dhinakaran is seen to have played a smart card here. He has projected himself as the rightful successor of Jayalalithaa, by placing her image on the party’s flag. This tactic is not only expected to sell well among the voters, it is also likely to help Dhinakaran ride on the popular schemes launched by the former chief minister under the ‘Amma’ tag, be it canteens, salt, water, medical aid, computers or scooters.
Dhinakaran impact
Dhinakaran is expected to play a major role in southern Tamil Nadu, the heartland of the Thevar community, which was instrumental in bringing AIADMK to power. Sasikala and her family belong to this caste and have helped in the rise of several leaders during the Jayalalithaa regime This is another reason why Dhinakaran chose Madurai, a stronghold of the Thevars, to launch his party.
“Dhinakaran’s party may end up being a deciding factor, but it may not be able to win a large number of seats like the parent AIADMK,” said political analyst K.N. Arun. “He will however substantially cut into AIADMK votes.”
With the launch of the party, Dhinakaran has set the stage for more members from Sasikala’s family to join active politics. Jayalalithaa had successfully kept them in the background for years. This platform is also expected to give Sasikala’s family a level playing ground when it comes to contesting on the Amma legacy.
Reactions from AIADMK and DMK
The AIADMK has been extremely critical of Dhinakaran’s move. It has alleged that Dhinakaran’s popularity is based on his money power and that is how he won the R.K. Nagar seat.
Dismissing his influence in Tamil Nadu politics, fisheries minister D. Jayakumar said, “AIADMK is like a lion and Dhinakaran’s party like a mosquito on the lion.”
Sources in the party, however, say that there is a sense of “fear” that TTV has brought about, one that the AIADMK could be fragmented in a matter of few years.
The DMK, on the other hand, has been a silent spectator. But as it has been its strategy, it may engineer a further divide in the AIADMK.
“Don’t be surprised because the party (DMK) may even back Dhinakaran,” said a DMK office-bearer, speaking on condition of anonymity.