T.T.V. Dhinakaran Might Pull Off A Surprise Or Two

As his AMMK stakes its claim to Jayalalithaa’s legacy, T.T.V. Dhinakaran might pull off a surprise or two

- Lakshmi Subramanian

Black and white flags, with the image of J. Jayalalithaa, line the streets of verdant Ooty. A huge crowd is raising slogans. They are waiting to welcome the new disruptor in Tamil Nadu politics.

A fancy tempo traveller, with speakers on all four sides, zooms in and skids to a halt. A few men in safari suits alight and form a barrier, holding the crowd at bay. The cadres cheer on as T.T.V. Dhinakaran pops up through the hatch on the roof. Thunderous applause follows, and slogans of ‘Makkal Selvar’ (prince of the people) and ‘Dravida Selvar’ (Dravida prince) rent the air.

The adulation makes the 55-year-old's face glow. The founder of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam is clad in a grey shirt with a Chinese collar. “This is not an election just to change the government at the Centre,” he says. “It is [an election] to liberate the people of Tamil Nadu. Vote for my candidates; [our symbol is] gift box.”

While the more powerful DMK and AIADMK have formed alliances for the upcoming elections, the AMMK is fighting alone. It has put up candidates in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, and in all 19 assembly constituencies going for byelections. The polls will be held together, on April 18.

Dhinakaran continues his speech, attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for betraying the people of Tamil Nadu, and taking a dig at Congress president Rahul Gandhi, saying, “He does not seem like a prime minister candidate. [The alliance with the DMK] was created by M.K. Stalin for political gains.”