AIADMK cadres urge EPS to bring TTV Dhinakaran back to party fold​

Chennai: AIADMK functionaries have urged party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) to consider bringing Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran back into the AIADMK, arguing that such a move would significantly strengthen the party in the Cauvery Delta and southern districts of Tamil Nadu.​

The demand reportedly came during a series of consultation meetings convened by Palaniswami with district-level office-bearers to review the party’s performance in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly election and discuss organisational reforms aimed at rebuilding the AIADMK.​

On Monday, Palaniswami met district functionaries from Thanjavur Metropolitan, Thanjavur East, Thanjavur Central, Thanjavur South, and Sivaganga at the party headquarters, MGR Maaligai, in Chennai. Several district secretaries and senior office-bearers attended the meeting and shared their views on strengthening the party.​

Among those who spoke was Kumbakonam Area Secretary Padma Kumaresan, who said the sentiments of grassroots workers and the public in his region strongly favoured Dhinakaran’s return to the AIADMK. ​

According to Kumaresan, he conveyed to Palaniswami that many party workers believe the AIADMK would become much stronger in the Delta belt and southern districts if Dhinakaran were readmitted into the party. ​

He said the issue was raised as part of the wider discussion on revitalising the organisation after the election setback.​

Responding to the suggestion, Palaniswami reportedly remarked that “T.T.V. Dhinakaran is running a separate political party,” indicating that the AMMK leader currently heads an independent organisation. ​

Despite the response, Kumaresan expressed confidence that Dhinakaran’s return would help consolidate the AIADMK’s traditional support base and improve its electoral prospects.​

“If T.T.V. Dhinakaran rejoins the AIADMK, the party will emerge stronger, and in the future the AIADMK will certainly be able to form the government,” he said after the meeting.​

The consultations come at a time when the AIADMK is attempting to reorganise its structure following the Assembly election, during which several of its functionaries switched allegiance to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). ​

Palaniswami has been holding a series of district-wise review meetings to assess the reasons for the party’s performance and gather suggestions from grassroots leaders as part of efforts to revive and strengthen the organisation ahead of future political challenges.​