Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam
AbbreviationAMMK
PresidentC. Gopal Mudaliyar
General SecretaryT. T. V. Dhinakaran
TreasurerS. K. Selvam
FounderT. T. V. Dhinakaran
Founded15 March 2018; 6 years ago (2018-03-15)
Split fromAll India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Headquarters15, Westcott Salai, Royapettah, Chennai – 600014, Tamil Nadu, India.
Student wingAMMK Student Wing
Youth wingPuratchi Thalaivar M.G.R. Youth Wing
Women's wingAMMK Women's Wing
Labour wingIdhayadheivam Amma Trade Union Federation
Peasant's wingAMMK Peasant's Wing
Colours  Green
ECI StatusRegistered-Unrecognized[1]
AllianceNDA
Seats in Lok Sabha
0 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
0 / 245
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
0 / 234
Party flag
Website
www.ammk.com

The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (transl. Amma People Progressive Federation; abbr. AMMK) is an Indian regional political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is founded by the former member of parliament T. T. V. Dhinakaran at Melur on 15 March 2018 as a breakaway faction from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam after his expulsion him from party.[2][3] The headquarters of the party is located at Westcott Salai, Royapettah, Chennai.

History

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RK Nagar by-election

[edit]

In December 2017, Dinakaran contested in RK Nagar by-election and won by a huge margin of 40,707 votes.[4] He became the first independent candidate to win a bypoll in Tamil Nadu and this was the first time in 18 years that a ruling party in the state lost a by-election.[5][6]

Formation

[edit]

Before being imprisoned in the Central Prison in Bangalore, Sasikala appointed Edappadi K. Palanisamy as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Palanisamy and other ministers removed her from the post and expelled her from the party in September 2017.[7][8].On 21 August 2017, it was reported that the AIADMK faction loyal to Palaniswami had decided to merge with Panneerselvam's splinter faction and expelled Sasikala as the general secretary as one of the key demands of the merger.[9] It was reported on 28 August that Sasikala had been expelled during a party meeting,[10] but this was later denied.[11]

On 13 September, the AIADMK General Council cancelled Sasikala's appointment as interim general secretary and expelled her from the party, though officials appointed to party posts by her were allowed to continue their duties. Instead, the late Jayalalithaa was named the eternal general secretary of AIADMK.[12]

T.T.V. Dhinakaran
Founder of the party

On 15 March 2018 at a public meeting in Madurai, TTV Dinakaran launched the party flag and named the party "Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam" after the AIADMK expelled him as well as his aunt V. K. Sasikala.[13] Sasikala and Dhinakaran were assigned the post of general secretary and deputy general secretary of the party respectively.[14] Dhinakaran was also elected as national convener by his party members.[15]

On 19 April, Dhinakaran was elected as the general secretary, while registering party in ECI and stated that Sasikala would be appointed as the party president after her release from jail.[16] The Election Commission of India recognised the AMMK as a registered state party in December 2019, while the post of the party president remained vacant.[17]

Elections and alliances

[edit]

Before the 2019 general elections in Tamil Nadu, the AMMK entered into a political alliance with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in March 2019, allotting one seat to it.[18] The AMMK was allocated the gift box symbol for the election.[19] Both the parties failed to win from any of the seats, though the AMMK was able to spilt the votes the AIADMK would have usually received.[20][21] During the rural local body elections held later in the same year, the AMMK had to contest on another symbol, this time of the coconut tree, and was able to secure victory from 94 panchayat union wards.[22]

Ahead of the Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission of India allotted the pressure cooker symbol to AMMK in December 2020.[23] In Tamil Nadu, the AMMK entered into an alliance called the "People's Front" with Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), SDPI and other smaller parties for the election. Out of 234 seats, 60 seats were allocated to DMDK, six to SDPI and three to AIMIM.[24] One seat each was allotted to Makkalarasu Katchi, Viduthalai Tamil Puligal Katchi, Gokula Makkal Katchi and Marudhu Senai Sangam.[25][26] Candidates from these parties contested under AMMK.[27] In Puducherry, it allied with SDPI and allotted it four seats.[28]

Sasikala however announced her retirement from politics in March 2021, a month after being released from jail, and did not support the AMMK when it decided to contest against the AIADMK in the elections.[29] While the AMMK and DMDK failed to win any seats in Tamil Nadu, the two cut into the vote share of AIADMK in 21 seats.[30][31] The AIMIM and SDPI failed to win any seats as well and had a dismal performance.[32]

The AMMK was again allotted the pressure cooker symbol for the 2022 Tamil Nadu urban local body elections.[33] It won from three corporation wards, 33 municipal wards and 66 town panchayat wards.[34] After his expulsion from the AIADMK in July 2022 and restoration in August amidst a power struggle with Edappadi K. Palaniswami, AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam expressed the desire to unify the party along with Sasikala and Dhinakaran.[35] Dhinakaran rejected the idea of merging the AMMK with AIADMK, but stated that his party was willing to ally with them.[36]

On 9 May 2023, Pannerselvam, who had again been expelled from the AIADMK, met Dhinakaran and the two announced an alliance of their respective parties. Panruti Ramachandran, who was also expelled from AIADMK for siding with Pannerselvam, stated that they had decided on a "working arrangement" like that of the CPI and CPI (M).[37] Dhinakaran was re-elected as the general secretary of the party on 6 August, while C. Gopal was elected as the president and S. Anbalagan was elected as the vice-president.[38]

Dhinakaran anncounced on 11 March 2024 that his party was joining the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2024 Indian general election, assuring it of unconditional support.[39] The BJP and AMMK came to an agreement on 20 March about the AMMK contesting from two seats in Tamil Nadu.[40] It failed to win from any of the two seats, although Dhinakaran managed to become the runner-up in the elections to the Theni Lok Sabha constituency.[41]

Party flag

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The flag is black at the top and red at the bottom with white in the middle with the smiling image of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa in the middle.[42][43]

Electoral performance

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Indian general elections

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Indian General Elections in Puducherry
Year Election Party Leader Seats Won Seats Contested Vote (%) Change of Seats Result Popular votes
2019 General election, 2019 T. T. V. Dhinakaran 1 0.49 Steady Lost 4,791[44]
Indian General Elections in Tamil Nadu
Year Election Party Leader Seats Won Seats Contested Vote (%) Change of Seats Result Popular votes
2019 General election, 2019 T. T. V. Dhinakaran 38 5.38 Steady Lost 2,206,108[44]
2024 General election, 2024 T. T. V. Dhinakaran 2 0.91 Steady Lost 393,415[45][46]

State legislative assembly elections

[edit]
Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections[47]
Year Assembly Party leader Seats contested Seats won Change in seats Percentage of votes Vote swing Popular vote Outcome
2021 16th T. T. V. Dhinakaran 165 Steady 2.35% Steady 1,085,985 Lost
Puducherry Legislative Assembly Elections[48]
Year Assembly Party leader Seats contested Seats won Change in seats Percentage of votes Vote swing Popular vote Outcome
2021 15th T. T. V. Dhinakaran 25 Steady 0.55% Steady 4,637 Lost

List of party leaders

[edit]

General secretaries

[edit]
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term in office
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 T. T. V. Dhinakaran
(1963–) 		19 April 2019 Incumbent 5 years, 246 days

Presidents

[edit]
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term in office
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 C. Gopal
(1946–) 		6 August 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 137 days

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "List of Political Parties & Symbol MAIN Notification dated 23.09.2021". India: Election Commission of India. 23 September 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Setback to Dhinakaran-Sasikala faction as High Court dismisses plea for AIADMK name, symbol". The Economic Times. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. ^ "TTV Dhinakaran Launches Own Party, Names It After 'Amma': Highlights". NDTV. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  4. ^ "RK Nagar bypoll result updates: TTV Dhinakaran wins by over 40,000 votes; supporters celebrate victory". Firstpost. 24 December 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  5. ^ Kumar, Pradeep (24 December 2017). "Dhinakaran wins RK Nagar bypoll, creates history in Tamil Nadu". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  6. ^ Stalin, J Sam Daniel; Sanyal, Anindita (24 December 2017). "In Huge Blow To AIADMK, TTV Dhinakaran Wins RK Nagar By-Poll: 10 Updates". NDTV.com. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  7. ^ "AIADMK unanimously elects Sasikala as the party general secretary". New Indian Express. 29 December 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Sasikala has accepted AIADMK general secretary post, Paneerselvam says". Julie Mariappan. The Times of India. 29 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  9. ^ "Sasikala to be expelled from AIADMK, OPS settles for deputy CM". The News Minute. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  10. ^ NARASIMHAN, T. E. (28 August 2017). "Ruling AIADMK expels Sasikala & Dhinakaran, plans to retrieve Jaya TV". Business Standard India.
  11. ^ "AIADMK general council meeting: Sasikala, Dinakaran sacked, Jayalalithaa to be 'eternal' party head". indiatoday. 12 September 2017.
  12. ^ "AIADMK sacks Sasikala, says Jaya is 'eternal general secretary'". Deccan Chronicle. 12 September 2017.
  13. ^ "Dhinakaran launches party – Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam – after Jayalalithaa". The Indian Express. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  14. ^ Shalini Lobo (21 March 2018). "Sasikala will be General Secretary, I will be Deputy General Secretary of AMMK, says TTV Dhinakaran". India Today. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam- the new party of TTV Dhinakaran". The Times of India. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Dhinakaran elected AMMK general secretary". The Hindu. 20 April 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  17. ^ "AMMK is now a registered state party". The New Indian Express. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  18. ^ "AMMK, SDPI ink poll pact for LS polls". Press Trust of India. Business Standard. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  19. ^ "EC allots 'gift pack' symbol to Dhinakaran-led AMMK party for 2019 polls". Press Trust of India. Business Standard. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Prodigal sons, white knight and cricketing memories". Deccan Herald. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Chennai Central Constituency Election Result 2019 Live". Firstpost. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  22. ^ D. Govardan (3 January 2020). "Tamil Nadu local body elections: Dhinakaran thanks voters for extending support to AMMK". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  23. ^ "AMMK gets 'pressure cooker', but MNM loses 'battery torch'". The Hindu. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  24. ^ D. Govardan (15 March 2021). "Tamil Nadu: DMDK gets 60 seats in 'People's Front' poll alliance with AMMK". The Times of India. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  25. ^ "AMMK to release manifesto on March 12". The New Indian Express. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  26. ^ "அமமுக கூட்டணியில் விடுதலை தமிழ்ப் புலிகள் கட்சி, மக்களரசு கட்சிக்கு தலா ஒரு தொகுதி ஒதுக்கீடு". Hindu Tamil Thisai (in Tamil). 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  27. ^ "AMMK Candidates List 2021". Oneindia. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  28. ^ "Puducherry polls | AMMK, SDPI clinch deal". The Hindu. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  29. ^ Archana R. (12 July 2021). "In Sasikala-Dhinakaran Battle, AMMK Cadres Are in Chaos in Tamil Nadu". News18. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  30. ^ "How smaller parties played big spoilers in Tamil Nadu election". The Indian Express. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  31. ^ "DMDK fades into oblivion, is it death knell". The New Indian Express. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  32. ^ R. Rangaraj (22 May 2021). "AIMIM comes a cropper in TN as minorities see through his game". The Federal. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  33. ^ "AMMK gets pressure cooker symbol". The Hindu. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  34. ^ Bosco Dominique (23 February 2022). "How smaller parties performed". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  35. ^ "Will soon meet Sasikala, Dhinakaran to unite AIADMK: Panneerselvam". Press Trust of India. Business Standard. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  36. ^ "AMMK is for a united Opposition alliance". The Hindu. 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  37. ^ Chandrababu, Divya (9 May 2023). "OPS, TTV announce to work together". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  38. ^ "Dhinakaran re-elected as AMMK's general secretary". DT Next. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  39. ^ Koushik, Janardhan (14 March 2024). "Lok Sabha polls: TTV Dhinakaran's AMMK to join BJP-led NDA, assures unconditional support". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  40. ^ "BJP allots two seats to AMMK, A.C. Shanmugham and John Pandian get one each". The Hindu. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  41. ^ Tamilarasu, Prabhakar (4 June 2024). "Dhinakaran trails by over 2 lakh votes in Theni but pushes AIADMK to 3rd place & 'sends a message'". ThePrint. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  42. ^ "Dhinakaran launches new party AMMK, unveils party flag with Jayalalithaa's image". National Herald. PTI. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  43. ^ "TTV Dhinakaran launches new party called AMMK; hoists flag with Jayalalithaa's face". 15 March 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  44. ^ a b "33. Constituency wise detailed result". Election Commission of India. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  45. ^ "DMK wrests Theni from AIADMK; AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran loses". The Hindu. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  46. ^ "Tiruchirappalli Lok Sabha Election Result 2024 Live". Oneindia. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  47. ^ "Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results". Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 6 April 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  48. ^ "Puducherry Assembly Election Results". Election Commission of India. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
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