Dhinakaran Exits NDA; Amit Shah Urges TN BJP to Maintain Restraint

Quick Summary

• T.T.V. Dhinakaran, leader of Amma makkal Munnetra kazhagam (AMMK), announced his party’s exit from the NDA alliance in tamil nadu on September 3, 2025.
• His decision follows allegations of neglect by the BJP after its revived electoral ties with AIADMK. He also expressed discontent over lack of progress within the alliance.
• Dhinakaran stated that AMMK had unconditionally joined the NDA in 2024 to ensure Narendra Modi’s re-election but now aims to contest independently in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
• Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam recently severed ties with NDA, citing similar dissatisfaction.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting on September 3 with Tamil Nadu BJP leaders and advised focusing on strengthening party organization rather than commenting on inter-party conflicts or alliances.
• Amit Shah instructed identification of Assembly seats for BJP-AIADMK collaboration in 2026 and emphasized local coordination committees while avoiding divisive commentary.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The AMMK’s departure creates fissures within the NDA ahead of key electoral contests-the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections-posing challenges for consolidated opposition against DMK rule. For state-oriented regional parties like AMMK and leaders such as Dhinakaran, aligning too closely with larger national parties could dilute their identity, a sentiment echoed by recent alliances breaking apart.

While BJP seeks to stabilize its coalition through organizational focus and bury internal rifts like those involving Panneerselvam or PMK figures, recurring partner dissatisfaction signals difficulties in achieving cohesive leadership across states where regional dynamics dominate politics.

AMMK’s self-reliant stance could reshape election blocs locally,forcing other alliances-including DMK’s-to recalibrate strategies for future polls. The emphasis by BJP leadership on grassroots coordination indicates their foresight into mitigating coalition drawbacks but reveals how tenuous symbiotic relationships are among partners juggling ideology versus pragmatism.

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