In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has initiated contact with AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran. The national party's objective is to persuade him to pause his recent political drift towards actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
BJP's Strategic Outreach to a Key Ally
According to sources within the BJP, senior leaders from the party have directly communicated with Dhinakaran. The core message was a request not to hastily formalize an alliance with the newly formed TVK. The BJP has assured Dhinakaran that high-level leaders from Delhi will soon engage in direct talks with him to explore a potential resolution that satisfies all parties involved.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit Tamil Nadu later this month, with a key agenda item being the strengthening of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) framework in the state. A senior BJP functionary from western Tamil Nadu emphasized Dhinakaran's value, stating, "TTV is a valuable political asset to improve our strike rate and unseat the DMK government in 2026."
Dhinakaran's Firm Stance and BJP's Electoral Calculus
Despite the outreach, T.T.V. Dhinakaran has maintained a firm condition for any return to the NDA fold. He insists that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) must be replaced as the alliance's chief ministerial candidate. Demonstrating his resolve, Dhinakaran recently invited applications from AMMK functionaries aspiring to contest in the 2026 assembly polls for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The application window is open from December 10 to 18, with January 3 set as the final date for submission.
On Monday, Dhinakaran reiterated his position, attacking EPS and predicting that the people would script his political end in 2026. He confirmed to reporters in Madurai that several parties had invited AMMK to join their fronts, adding, "Once discussions conclude, we will make an announcement. There is no hurry."
For the BJP, retaining AMMK within its sphere of influence is an electoral priority. The party's assessment is based on concrete numbers: in the 2021 elections, AMMK secured around 30,000 votes in more than 20 constituencies in southern Tamil Nadu and over 10,000 votes in several others. In the tightly contested electoral landscape of the state, these vote shares could prove decisive.
The Road Ahead for NDA's Tamil Nadu Ambitions
While the BJP acknowledges that it has not yet arrived at a formal offer compelling enough to change Dhinakaran's mind, party leaders are hopeful that Amit Shah's impending visit and direct intervention will be able to convince him. AMMK functionaries have confirmed the BJP's reachout, with a former MLA close to Dhinakaran revealing that a senior BJP leader was in touch and advised against a hurried tie-up with TVK.
The political maneuvering underscores the high-stakes preparation for the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. The BJP is keen on consolidating a formidable opposition front to challenge the ruling DMK, and keeping potential allies like AMMK from drifting to other emerging forces, such as Vijay's TVK, is a critical part of that strategy. The coming weeks, marked by Amit Shah's visit and subsequent negotiations, are likely to shape the early contours of the electoral battle in the state.
