Political Maneuvering After Tamil Nadu’s Election: Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK)’s Push for an Alternative Chief Minister

In the weeks following the Tamil Nadu assembly election, AMMK general secretary T. T. V. Dhinakaran said that AIADMK leaders, including former chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), explored installing VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan as chief minister. The proposal emerged after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) fell short of a majority and before actor-turned-politician Vijay secured the governorship’s invitation on May 9. Vijay ultimately formed a government on May 10 after the VCK and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) extended support, pushing the coalition past the 118-seat majority threshold.

TTV Dhinakaran drops bombshell, reveals AIADMK's Plan B if Vijay's TVK failed The HinduDMK, AIADMK will never join hands: Dhinakaran

Dhinakaran told reporters that the AIADMK and DMK never attempted a joint government and that the effort to make Thirumavalavan chief minister was driven by TVK’s lack of sufficient MLAs. He cited the TVK’s 107-member strength as the reason for seeking an alternative arrangement. According to Dhinakaran, DMK president M. K. Stalin explicitly ruled out any attempt to form a government, and the Left parties declined to back EPS because doing so would amount to supporting the BJP. Dhinakaran emphasized that the move was not intended to block TVK’s rise but to prevent “poaching” of its legislators by rival factions.

TTV Dhinakaran drops bombshell, reveals AIADMK's Plan B if Vijay's TVK failed The HinduDMK, AIADMK will never join hands: Dhinakaran

• TVK’s claimed strength: 107 MLAs (attributed to Dhinakaran).

Deccan Chronicle

• Majority requirement: 118 seats in the 234-member assembly.

DMK, AIADMK will never join hands: Dhinakaran

• Vijay’s invitation to form government received on May 9 after VCK and IUML support.

TTV Dhinakaran drops bombshell, reveals AIADMK's Plan B if Vijay's TVK failed

• Vijay took oath as chief minister on May 10.

TTV Dhinakaran drops bombshell, reveals AIADMK's Plan B if Vijay's TVK failed

Beyond coalition talks, Dhinakaran has repeatedly attacked the incumbent TVK administration. He warned that soaring rice and salt prices could threaten the government’s stability and described a TVK-led administration as a “curse” for the state, likening its impact to the El Niño weather phenomenon. He also suggested that the return of an “Amma” government under EPS would be necessary to safeguard law and order.

Deccan Chronicle

• “Had the Left parties and Thirumavalavan not extended their support, Vijay would not have formed the government,” — V. Dhinakaran, AMMK general secretary

TTV Dhinakaran drops bombshell, reveals AIADMK's Plan B if Vijay's TVK failed

• “It was not about preventing TVK from coming to power, but about stopping attempts to poach MLAs and teaching the party a lesson,” — V. Dhinakaran, AMMK general secretary

DMK, AIADMK will never join hands: Dhinakaran

• “It is natural for film personalities to join political parties and I would be happy if actor Dhanush joined the AIADMK,” — V. Dhinakaran, AMMK general secretary

Deccan Chronicle

• “Just as El Niño affects us, a TVK government under Chief Minister Vijay would be a curse for us.” — V. Dhinakaran, AMMK general secretary

Deccan Chronicle