Former Tamil Nadu CM and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) on Friday (February 27) joined the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). OPS, a long-time Jayalalitha loyalist, was inducted into the DMK by Chief Minister MK Stalin in the presence of senior ministers at the party headquarters in Chennai. According to sources, OPS can be made a candidate from his home constituency Bodi Mettu area of ​​Theni in the upcoming assembly elections.
Panneerselvam’s entry into the DMK is being seen as a strategic move to consolidate support in southern Tamil Nadu, especially in the Thevar dominated region, where Panneerselvam’s influence still remains. On the other hand, this move may weaken the AIADMK in the state as its traditional Thevar vote bank will be divided and disgruntled workers will strengthen the DMK, especially in southern Tamil Nadu.
Panneerselvam’s attack on Palaniswami
While addressing the media after joining DMK, O Panneerselvam made a scathing attack on Palaniswami and said that AIADMK is not in a position to win the elections because of his arrogance. He said, “EPS’s arrogance and arbitrary misuse of political power has created such a situation that AIADMK can never win elections. He is running the party in a dictatorial manner and AIADMK is on the way to decline.
OPS has been CM of Tamil Nadu thrice
OPS, a three-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was embroiled in a power struggle within the party after the death of Jayalalitha in 2016. His rivalry with OPS led to a split in the AIADMK, due to which OPS lost political ground.
Being marginalized in AIADMK and expelled from the party after a long struggle, Panneerselvam tried to create a separate political identity. Recently OPS had expressed his desire to rejoin the party before the 2026 assembly elections and even called EPS his elder brother. However, EPS rejected any possibility of reconciliation, saying that there was absolutely no possibility of taking him back into the party.
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