TTV Dhinakaran loyalist Nanjil Sampath has quit the RK Nagar MLA’s camp and retired from politics.
Announcing his departure from Dhinakaran’s camp and politics altogether, Nanjil Sampath said, “TTV Dhinakaran believes he can run his party by insulting Anna and Dravidianism. My wishes to the success of his belief. I'm no longer a part of that. I'm not in politics. I'm not in any party. I'm not going to contest this. I'm not going to ask why he did this. He's a leader I respected and celebrated. He himself has committed a murder in broad daylight. I cannot bear this injustice. I don't have the strength to oppose this. Therefore, I will no longer be a part of politics. Henceforth, you can see me on Tamil literature stages.”
Sampath is said to be referencing the absence of the word ‘Anna’ and ‘Dravida’ in TTV Dhinakaran’s party name: The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam.
Sampath has frequently appeared on TV news channels over the past year, defending the politics of TTV Dhinakaran who was sidelined by the now united AIADMK factions led by Edapaddi Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam.
Sampath joined the AIADMK in 2012. He started out his political career in the DMK, but walked out with Vaiko in 1993 when the latter started the MDMK.
This isn’t the first time the fiery orator has announced his retirement from politics. In January last year, Sampath quit politics only to be back in praise of now jailed Jayalalithaa aide VK Sasikala.
In January 2016, Sampath was fired by then AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa shortly after an interview criticising his former party, the MDMK. A few days before the interview, Jayalalithaa had told party workers that the party was ready for alliance talks, in light of the 2016 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Sampath who was then Deputy Propaganda Secretary for the AIADMK had said Jayalalithaa did not go to meet flood-affected people in Tamil Nadu as she had been unwell.