In a major development in the Tamil Nadu politics, sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran floated his new political party and unveiled the flag on Thursday.
“Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam will be the name of my party,” said Dhinakaran at a huge public rally at Melur in Madhurai. The flag of the new party has prominently featured image of late leader J. Jayalalithaa.
In what is seen as a massive show of strength, thousands of supporters participated in the rally, where huge hoardings of Jayalalithaa, AIADMK founder M.G. Ramachandran, Dravidian icon C.N. Annadurai and V.K. Sasikala were seen.
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 Dhinakaran as the "future chief minister" were put up at several roads and junctions.
"We will win all upcoming elections from now by using the latest name and party flag. We will also try to retrieve the 'two leaves' symbol, till then we will use cooker symbol," Dhinakaran said.
The Delhi High Court had on March 9 allowed Dhinakaran's plea for allotment of a common symbol and a name of his choice for the AIADMK faction led by him.
The court order came on an interim application filed by the Dhinakaran-V.K. Sasikala faction in their main petition challenging the Election Commission's November 23 order last year, which had allotted 'two leaves' symbol to the group headed by Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and his deputy O. Panneerselvam.
Dhinakaran, who won the RK Nagar Assembly bypoll, held in December last as an independent candidate on the 'pressure cooker' symbol, had earlier told the court that he needed a temporary name and symbol for his group to interact with the electorate in the eventuality of elections to local bodies or any other polls.
The RK Nagar MLA's announcement to launch a political party comes weeks after actor-politician Kamal Haasan floated his party 'Makkal Needhi Maiam' in Madurai.
On December 31, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth had announced his decision to enter politics but he is yet to launch a party.