One of the key elements in this tussle between AIADMK and AMMK is the caste factor. Edappadi Palaniswami’s caste is Gounder and O Pannerselvam is a Thevar by caste. Both are dominant castes in Tamil Nadu. Sasikala and Dhinakaran too are Thevars. This caste equation was expected to split votes.
Sources told The Quint that Sasikala retreated with the genuine aim of not splitting the votes of AIADMK voters in this election. However, this could have been done under pressure from the BJP.
Dhinakaran had been running AMMK all alone when Sasikala was in prison. He said that Sasikala’s decision will not prevent him from forming a third front this election. But her decision poses a new challenge to Dhinakaran as the party now lacks the ‘Sasikala factor’ and could lose supporters. This maybe a move by Sasikala to call for unity between AIADMK and AMMK, Dhinakaran suggested.
Will AMMK leaders and…