Dinakaran Party Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagham, AMMK

Madurai: Independent legislator and sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dinakaran on Thursday launched his new party called Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagham (AMMK). He announced his party's name at Melur near the temple town here in Tamil Nadu. The party flag was later unfurled.

"From today onwards we will function with a name and work to recover the 'two leaves' symbol of the AIADMK," Dinakaran said. He said till the party recovers the 'two leaves' symbol, it will contest the elections with the 'pressure cooker' symbol.

On March 9, the Delhi High Court allowed Dinakaran's plea for use of a common poll symbol -- preferably 'pressure cooker' -- and a suitable party name to carry on with his politics. The court was hearing Dinakaran's plea for permission to use "pressure cooker" symbol for local bodies elections likely in April in Tamil Nadu or any other elections, during the pendency of the writ petitions regarding the AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol.

In December 2017, Dinakaran won the Radhakrishnan Nagar bypoll as an Independent which he contested with 'pressure cooker' symbol. Dinakaran has challenged the Election Commission order to award the 'two leaves' symbol to a faction led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.

Dinakaran displays show of strength at party launch

It was a show of strength today by sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dinakaran who named his party after late leader J Jayalalithaa and unveiled its flag amid thousands of cadres who hailed him as the next Tamil Nadu "chief minister". Naming his party "Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam" at an event here, Dinakaran said the new outfit would capture power in the state.

Dinakaran, who has the support of several dissident party workers and leaders, arrived in style in an open-top van acknowledging greetings from several supporters who had lined-up on streets in Melur with placards sporting his image. Several party workers gave him the traditional poornakumbham, considered auspicious and a sign of respect.

It has mango leaves and a coconut in a decorated traditional vase or pot. Banners and hoardings hailing Dinakaran 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 Dinakaran loyalists, including P Vetrivel and Thanga Tamil Selvan, attended the event.

Giant hoardings of Dinakrana along with AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran (MGR), Jayalalithaa, Dravidian icon C N Annadurai, and jailed leader V K Sasikala were also put up for the event. The venue had a green backdrop (Jayalalithaas favourite colour). As soon as he arrived, a popular yesteryear number from an MGR film vangaiyya vathiyar ayya, (welcome our leader) was played.

Dinakaran paid floral tributes to MGR and Jayalalithaa. Notwithstanding the move, he had said yesterday that his camp has not given up its right over the two-leaves symbol. Cadres at the event claimed that it "overshadowed" party functions, including the Ilangyar Pasarai-Illam Pengal Pasarai at Theni, held by "betrayers" (ruling AIADMK led by K Palaniswami). The pasarai, event had witnessed an attendance of about 50,000 cadres, according to the ruling AIADMK.

IANS