Chennai: With breakaway AIADMK chief O. Panneerselvam and AMMK chief T.T.V. Dhinakaran quitting the NDA alliance and senior AIADMK chief and former minister Ok.A. Sengottaiyan publicly voicing discomfort, the NDA in Tamil Nadu finds itself in a precarious place, signalling one other spherical of alliance realignment forward of the 2026 meeting elections.

Though O. Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran haven’t brazenly introduced their plan of motion, each have hinted at becoming a member of a 3rd entrance led by actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kalagam.

Chatting with reporters in Kattumannarkoil, he stated, he gave unconditional help to the NDA alliance to make Narendra Modi Prime Minister of the nation, however the 2026 state elections are a distinct matter.

“It’s all about selecting an applicable chief minister for the state. Therefore, we’re leaving the NDA alliance and can announce our alliance by December,” he declared.

He additionally hinted at becoming a member of Vijay’s TVK, stating that Vijay has the potential to make an affect within the upcoming 2026 meeting election.

Evaluating the arrival of Vijay into politics with that of Vijayakanth, Dhinakaran stated, “When an actor with a mass base enters politics, he can definitely dampen the vote share of all of the political events and it was evident throughout Vijayakanth’s entry into politics. However, Vijay would make extra affect than Vijayakanth did.”

Political analysts within the state identified Vjay’s TVK could be a extra viable choice for O. Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran than aligning with their arch rival DMK or the Seeman-led Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK).

“There isn’t a future for Dhinakaran and OPS within the NDA. Aligning with actor Vijay’s occasion is feasible, however the compatibility between the leaders and acceptance of the brand new leaders within the alliance seems to be unsure for now,” political analyst Tharasu Shyam instructed ThePrint.

Vijay’s TVK has been repeatedly inviting political events and leaders to affix their alliance, saying he would share energy with alliance companions if elected within the 2026 meeting elections.

Chatting with ThePrint, TVK spokesperson Raj Mohan stated their occasion is in talks with a number of leaders, together with former AIADMK leaders.

“We’re not in opposition to AIADMK. We’re solely in opposition to DMK and BJP. We’re in talks with many political events and leaders, together with former AIADMK leaders. We are going to settle for anyone who accepts our ideology and our Thalapathy (Vijay) because the chief. The choice and the formal announcement will probably be made by the occasion management,” Raj Mohan instructed ThePrint.

The AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu is on the crossroads, as former AIADMK leaders are leaving the alliance one after the opposite. Whereas OPS formally left the NDA alliance in June, TTV Dhinakaran left on 3 September.

Political analyst N. Sathiyamoorthy stated former AIADMK leaders would possibly assist Vijay’s TVK in consolidating the Mukkulathor vote share within the southern elements of the state.

“Each T.T.V. Dhinakaran and O. Panneerselvam are seen as representatives of the Mukkulathor group. Not one of the leaders within the mainstream political occasion have that identification and so Dhinakaran and Panneerselvam could be belongings for TVK. However, it stays to be seen if the previous AIADMK leaders will settle for Vijay’s management and if Vijay will be capable to accommodate such senior leaders in his alliance,” Sathiyamoorthy stated.

In the meantime, senior AIADMK chief and former minister Ok.A. Sengottaiyan, who had skipped AIADMK common secretary Edappadi Ok. Palaniswami’s latest public occasions, instructed reporters on 2 September that he has variations of opinion with the occasion management.

“I’ll converse my thoughts on 5 September on the occasion workplace in Gopichettipalayam (in Erode district). I didn’t invite anyone to satisfy me and I additionally don’t know who else will be part of me whereas addressing reporters on 5 September,” Sengottaiyan instructed reporters on 2 September.

This isn’t the primary time Ok.A. Sengottaiyan has expressed his discomfort contained in the occasion. It was in February, the he first expressed displeasure over the functioning of the occasion. He stated he was sad that former chief minister M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa’s photos weren’t on the invitation and on the venue of an occasion to felicitate AIADMK common secretary Edappadi Ok. Palaniswami at Annur in Coimbatore.

Analysts imagine he would possibly push for the reunification of former AIADMK leaders, together with V.Ok. Sasikala, T.T.V. Dhinakaran and O. Panneerselvam, other than expressing his displeasure over the occasion’s functioning.

Political activist Raveendran Duraisamy stated that the silent protest of Sengottaiyan is a loud assertion of rising dissatisfaction over sidelining AIADMK icons and former CM MGR and Jayalalithaa.

“What he says on 5 September will probably be a possible turning level for AIADMK in addition to the NDA alliance within the state. It’d as soon as once more result in factionalism inside AIADMK or perhaps a new splinter group like OPS and T.T.V. Dhinakaran,” Raveendran Duraisamy instructed ThePrint.

In the meantime, V.Ok. Sasikala, the expelled AIADMK chief and shut confidante of former CM J. Jayalalithaa, has launched a press release on 30 August, calling for a unification of all AIADMK supporters and cadres beneath one umbrella.

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What led the leaders to depart NDA?

Though T.T.V. Dhinakaran and O. Panneerselvam didn’t explicitly blame AIADMK or BJP for leaving the NDA alliance forward of the 2026 meeting polls, they’ve hinted on the mistreatment meted out to them.

Whereas O. Panneerselvam’s supporters say he was not given time to satisfy any of the BJP nationwide leaders throughout their go to to Tamil Nadu earlier than June 2025, T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s supporters say they weren’t contacted for any political conferences within the latest previous, regardless of being firmly with the alliance till 31 August.

“In August alone, there have been two occasions, one led by Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, an ally of NDA, and one other occasion of the Tamil Maanila Congress. Each occasions have been attended by senior BJP leaders, however we weren’t even knowledgeable concerning the occasions. We additionally realised that whereas we have been firmly with the NDA alliance, BJP or different events had not confirmed that AMMK was a part of the NDA alliance,” V. Karthikeyan, secretary of AMMK’s advocate wing instructed ThePrint.

Quickly after exiting the NDA alliance, O. Panneerselvam’s supporters additionally stated they weren’t handled nicely throughout the NDA alliance, particularly by BJP leaders.

In June, in a single occasion, O. Panneerselvam himself had proven a collection of messages despatched to BJP president Nainar Nagendran, with none response.

“This remedy started after AIADMK and BJP formally reunited in April this yr for the 2026 meeting elections. If (we knew) that is how BJP will deal with us, we’d not have joined within the first place,” stated Panruti Ramachandran, expelled AIADMK senior chief and OPS supporter, instructed ThePrint.

BJP leaders refused to touch upon the alleged mistreatment by the alliance leaders. One BJP chief who didn’t need to be named stated, “All the pieces will fall in line earlier than the 2026 elections and we’ve got sufficient time for elections and to resolve on the alliance.”

(Edited by Viny Mishra)

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