Chennai: Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam leader TTV Dhinakaran has said his party is open to discuss alliance with the Congress party but only if that party snaps ties with the DMK. He had already made clear the AMMK would “never align with the BJP”.
Claiming that his party “is ready anytime” to face the elections, TTV said, “We will win 37 seats in the Lok Sabha elections on our own. Many are already in touch with us for forging alliance. We welcome alliance talks”. The AMMK leader was speaking to reporters at Bengaluru after meeting with his aunt and party chief V. K. Sasikala at the Parappana Agrahara prison on Thursday.
Recalling that in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Jayalalithaa had stood alone while the DMK had allied with the Congress and the other parties formed a separate grouping, TTV said, “I am also like her but I am not against forging an alliance”.
The AMMK leader said his party would contest the local body elections on 'Pressure Cooker' symbol as the Supreme Court had assured the party it could approach it for a common symbol at poll time. The party was all set to take on any election, whenever held, he said, pointing out that the AMMK had already announced poll managers for all the 39 LS seats in Tamil Nadu and the lone LS seat in Puducherry, besides the 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
Recalling that the AIADMK could not win the RK Nagar by-election despite holding the 'two-leaves' symbol, TTV predicted a rout for the ruling party as and when the local body elections are held. “The local body polls will prove how much people hate this government. It will reflect the real ground situation here”, he asserted, while speaking to reporters at Chennai.
