Dhinakaran might have left NDA as he cannot accept Palaniswami as CM candidate: T.N. BJP leader Nainar Nagenthran

BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagenthran said on Monday that he could not comprehend why Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam  (AMMK) founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran walked out of the National Democratic Alliance. He felt that Mr. Dhinakaran might not be able to accept AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami being projected as the chief ministerial candidate.

Mr. Nagenthran, who was previously with the AIADMK, recalled his association with Mr. Dhinakaran since 2001 and told journalists in  Tirunelveli that he did not have any difference of opinion with Mr. Dhinakaran, who had broken away from the AIADMK and formed the AMMK. After the AIADMK became part of the NDA in April last,  BJP senior leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared Mr. Palaniswami the head of the NDA in Tamil Nadu, and the BJP’s State unit accepted it.

The AMMK had fielded candidates against the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections before joining the NDA for the 2024 Lok Sabha election after the AIADMK quit the coalition, he said.

‘Every party treated with respect’

“Now, the AIADMK, a larger party with more than 30% vote share [as per Mr. Nagenthran’s claim], has returned to the NDA. Mr. Dhinakaran, having just over 2% vote share, who wanted to stay with the NDA, has suddenly left the alliance, citing me as the reason. When he spoke to me on the phone and met me personally on various occasions, Mr.  Dhinakaran had never expressed his grievances. He refuses to accept Mr. Palaniswami as the chief ministerial candidate of the NDA even after Mr. Amit Shah had made it clear. Though we treated every party in a dignified manner, I cannot understand why he is citing me as the reason for his leaving the NDA,” Mr. Nagenthran said.

“The DMK should be unseated. Since we have got eight more months to go [for the Assembly election], everyone opposing this government should remain united to achieve this goal. If I am asked to speak to Mr. Dhinakaran or [expelled AIADMK coordinator] O. Panneerselvam, I will do so [to persuade them to return to the NDA],” he added.

‘No proper reply’

Commenting on Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s recent visit to Germany and the United Kingdom for attracting industrial investment, the BJP leader said he had already demanded a White Paper on the investment realised through the Chief Minister’s foreign visits so far. “But neither the State government nor the Minister for Industries has given any proper reply,” Mr. Nagenthran said.