A new political outfit named after late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa was launched on Thursday at Madurai. Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (Tamil for Progressive Party of Amma’s Followers) was launched on the first day of the Tamil month of Panguni which fell on Thursday. Panguni is the equivalent of Sanskrit month Phalguna.
TTV Dhinakaran, the rebel AIADMK leader, told a mammoth crowd which had gathered at Melur in Madurai district that the launching of AMMK was not the end of his political journey. “This is the beginning of a new political initiative. The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam has been launched to retrieve the AIADMK and the Two leaves symbol from the group led by Edappadi Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam. The 1.5 crore strong cadre who holds Amma Jayalalithaa in reverence would work round-the-clock to win all elections starting from the local body to parliament and convince the authorities that we are the real AIADMK,” Dhinakaran told the crowd.
The new party flag has black, white and red stripes with the image of late Jayalalithaa at the centre. The absence of the word Dravida in the name of the new party has baffled many. Since the AMMK has been launched with the sole purpose of retrieving the AIADMK name and the Two leaves emblem, this is being seen as a short-term arrangement by the party cadre and the absence of the word Dravida has not upset them in any way.
“For the last four months we had no name, no flag and no recognition. We went to the court and the Delhi High Court ordered that we should be given the cooker symbol,” said Dhinakaran while explaining the factors leading to the launch of the new party.
This is the second political party to be launched in Tamil Nadu during the last two months. February saw film actor Kamal Haassan making his political debut with the launching of Makkal Neethi Maiyam with the declared objectives of fighting Hindutwa forces and corruption. The actor is touring all over Tamil Nadu chiding and lambasting the the BJP and the AIADMK for all the ills faced by the State and the country.
Though another super star Rajinikanth too had spoken about politics and his dream of becoming a politician, early this week he left for Himalayas for a spiritual pilgrimage. His refusal to speak anything about politics during the pilgrimage has given rise to doubts in the minds of his critics about the viability of his political aspirations.
Dhinakaran said he was launching AMMK with the blessings of his aunt VK Sasikala, who is serving a jail term in Bangalore in connection with the Disproportionate Asset case.