AMMK – a nursing home for those suffering wounds of rejection

VK Sasikala may have decided to stay away from politics for the moment, but that has not deterred her nephew and AMMK leader, TTV Dhinakaran, from cobbling together an alliance with bit players.

Dhinakaran has fashioned the AMMK as a nursing home for those suffering the wounds of rejection, a consolation prize for those denied tickets for the 2021 assembly election.

He has shown alacrity in seizing key moments in the run-up to the polls. On March 11 the AIADMK’s MLA, Rajavarman, was denied the Sathur seat. The next day Dhinakaran and he held a meeting, at the end of which Rajavarman was accommodated in the AMMK candidate list. Ayyadurai Pandian of the DMK, who also failed to get a ticket, was included in the AMMK list within a few hours of DMK president MK Stalin releasing his party’s list of candidates.

Also read: Dhinakaran-Owaisi pact will harm the fortunes of other parties

Similarly, the AMMK also took advantage of the DMK’s refusal to invite AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi for a seminar, after having initially suggested it would do so. Dhinakaran quickly agreed to meet AIMIM representatives, and agreed to set apart three constituencies for that party for the April 6 election. Owaisi is also scheduled to meet Dhinakaran on March 12 or 13.

When the SDPI could not reach an agreement with Kamal Haasan’s MNM two days ago, the AMMK was quick to seize the opportunity and finalise an electoral alliance under which the SDPI would contest six seats.

Also read: Abandoned Dhinakaran to fight a lonely battle or align with AIADMK?

Vijayakanth’s DMDK too was invited by the AMMK for talks after the former was sidelined by the AIADMK. However, the two sides could not agree on an alliance in view of Vijayakanth’s excessive demands, according to the AMMK.

Although the AMMK announced the third list for over 150 constituencies on March 12, party insiders believe that Dhinakaran has kept his doors open for those rejected by the bigger parties. The rejects may not win the election, but they will get a chance to settle scores  with those that denied them tickets.