‘AMMK’ Launch: Dhinakaran Names Political Party After Jayalalithaa
Ousted AIADMK leader and RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran launched his political party in Madurai on 15 March.
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Ousted AIADMK general secretary and RK Nagar MLA TTV Dhinakaran on Thursday launched his political party 'Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam' (AMMK) in Madurai. He also unveiled his party’s flag prominently featuring the image of late leader J Jayalalithaa.
- Launching his new political outfit, Dhinakaran said he will strive to serve the people of Tamil Nadu
- AMMK will reportedly use the pressure cooker as its party symbol till it “retrieves” AIADMK’s two leaves symbol
- The party is named after J Jayalalithaa, who was called ‘Amma’ by her cadres
AIADMK Leader Likens TTV to A 'Mosquito'
Tamil Nadu minister and AIADMK leader D Jayakumar compared TTV Dhinakaran to a mosquito and said that he was like a “shani” over their party.
TTV Launches 'Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam'
Ousted AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran launched a new political party -- 'Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam' -- in Madurai on Thursday, 15 March, and said that he has the support of late chief minister Jayalalithaa and his aunt VK Sasikala, along with the people of Tamil Nadu.
The AMMK will reportedly use a pressure cooker as its party symbol till they “retrieve” the AIADMK’s two leaves symbol.
He said that his party will contest in all election, be it the Lok Sabha, state elections, or even the cooperative elections.
Banners and hoardings hailing Dhinakaran as the "future chief minister" were put up at several roads and junctions.
Former ministers V Senthil Balaji and P Palaniappan, senior leader S Anbazhagan, disqualified MLAs and Dhinakaran loyalists, including P Vetrivel and Thanga Tamil Selvan, attended the event.
Cadres Arrive at TTV's Party Launch
What Dhinakaran Promises
Dhinakaran said that in addition to clinching the government back from the “betrayers,” he will also implement the welfare programmes envisioned by former chief minister Jayalalithaa.
The leader reportedly “supports” his aunt Sasikala, one of Jayalalithaa’s closest aide who is serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted in a disproportionate assets case.
Dhinakaran has the support of at least 22 MLAs, including 18 AIADMK elected representatives, who were disqualified by the Tamil Nadu Speaker in August 2017.
Slew of Party Launches in TN
Dhinkaran’s political party launch comes after actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan launched his political party in Madurai on 21 February.
Superstar Rajinikanth, who announced his political entry in Chennai on 31 December, is expected to launch his party soon.
AIADMK Splits After Jaya's Death
The AIADMK party split into two factions following the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa in December 2016.
The then chief minister, O Panneerselvam, led a rebellion to oust the then party’s general secretary VK Sasikala, leading to the split.
But months after Sasikala was convicted in the disproportionate assets case, Sasikala’s ‘trusted lieutenant’ Edappadi Palaniswami patched up with arch rival O Pannerselvam following the personal involvement of Prime Minister Modi, reported The News Minute.
Following the coming together of the OPS and the EPS faction, Sasikala and Dhinakaran were ousted from their respective posts in the party.
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Published: 15 Mar 2018,10:13 AM IST