Chennai, Sept. 23 -- Former BJP state president K Annamalai had an hour-long meeting with Amma Makkal Munntera Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, sparking speculation of the AMMK's return to the NDA combine.

Annamalai is the first BJP leader to walk the extra mile to meet the sulking Dhinakaran, who had left the NDA following his marginalisation after the re-entry of the AIADMK under Edappadi K Palaniswamy (EPS) into the saffron combine in Tamil Nadu and his projection as the Chief Ministerial candidate in the 2026 assembly election.

He and rebel AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) have deserted the NDA in close succession after their long wait for the BJP national leadership to facilitate their re-induction into the AIADMK...