Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, addressing a press conference with AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran in Chennai on Wednesday
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
With only a few months to go for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), led by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, on Wednesday (January 21, 2026) rejoined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led in the State by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Mr. Dhinakaran met BJP’s election in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Information Technology L. Murugan and BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagenthran, in Chennai and formally announced his party’s revival of ties with the NDA.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Goyal said he was happy Mr. Dhinakaran had decided to return to the NDA. He recollected Mr. Dhinakaran’s association with his late father and senior BJP leader Ved Prakash Goyal, when they served as Rajya Sabha members.
He said NDA leaders were committed to removing the “corrupt and incompetent DMK government, which is attacking the people of Tamil Nadu, Tamil culture, and Tamil pride.“
Mr. Goyal said: “We are all hurt. We will work together as one family and defeat the anti-Bharat, anti-India DMK alliance. We will make sure to expose before the people, the corruption of Mr. Stalin, Mr. Udhayanidhi [Deputy Chief Minister], his brother-in-law Sabareesan, and the DMK.”
The NDA, he said, “will provide good leadership, governance, and social welfare for the sisters and daughters of Tamil Nadu, good opportunities and a bright future for the youth of the State, and will take Tamil language, pride, and culture to the world.”
“Mr. Dhinakaran’s comeback to the NDA strengthens our resolve and commitment to bring to the people of Tamil Nadu, a bright future and glorious pride. Jayalalithaa ji made Tamil Nadu the number one State in India. We are committed to upholding her high ideals and good governance that Jayalalithaa ji gave to the State of Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Goyal said.
‘Happy to return’
Mr. Dhinakaran said he was happy to return to the NDA, and that his party would strengthen the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to build a strong alliance for the 2026 elections.
“Setting aside our past differences and keeping the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu in mind, we have wholeheartedly joined the NDA to unseat the DMK from power. In this election, AMMK functionaries and cadres will work tirelessly for the victory of the NDA. We will work together to restore Amma’s [Jayalalithaa’s] rule, which lost power in 2021,” he said.
The AMMK, which contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as part of the BJP-led NDA, exited the alliance on September 3 last year, citing persistent neglect after the BJP revived ties with the AIADMK in April 2025.
The AMMK’s return to the NDA fold assumes significance against the backdrop of Mr. Modi’s election campaign meeting scheduled near Maduranthagam in Chengalpattu district on January 23. The Pattali Makkal Katchi, led by Anbumani Ramadoss, also recently joined the NDA.
All NDA leaders, including the combine’s senior ally and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, are expected to participate in the event. If Mr. Palaniswami and Mr. Dhinakaran share the stage with Mr. Modi at the rally, it will mark their first public meeting together since Mr. Dhinakaran’s expulsion from the AIADMK in August 2017.
Published – January 21, 2026 01:17 pm IST
