Tamil Nadu politician Dhinakaran expels lone AMMK MLA for supporting TVK government
On May 12, 2026, T.T.V. Dhinakaran, leader of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), announced the expulsion of the party’s sole legislative assembly member, S. Kamaraj, after the MLA publicly endorsed the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in the Assembly. The move reflects internal party tensions and realignments ahead of the forthcoming state elections.
The AMMK, a splinter of the ruling AIADMK, has struggled to maintain relevance since its formation. Kamaraj’s speech, delivered during the election of Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, praised the TVK coalition’s governance, prompting Dhinakaran to deem the act “a betrayal of party ideology”.
The Hindu’s coverage (ID 34457) detailed the sequence of events, quoting Dhinakaran’s statement: “We cannot tolerate members who lend support to rival governments while representing the AMMK.” Kamaraj, for his part, defended his remarks as “a call for constructive collaboration”. Political observers note that the expulsion underscores the fragmented nature of Tamil Nadu’s opposition landscape.
Analysts suggest that Dhinakaran’s decisive action may be an attempt to consolidate party discipline before the 2026 local body polls. Dr. Ramesh Iyer of the Indian Institute of Political Science warned that “such internal purges could further diminish AMMK’s electoral prospects, pushing its supporters toward larger opposition blocs”.
The AMMK is expected to announce its candidate roster for the upcoming municipal elections by early June. Stakeholders will monitor whether the expulsion triggers additional defections or alters coalition dynamics among Tamil Nadu’s opposition parties.