In a seismic realignment of the Tamil Nadu political panorama just some months forward of the Legislative Meeting elections, O. Panneerselvam, three-time former Chief Minister, five-time AIADMK MLA, and a staunch loyalist of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, joined the DMK within the presence of celebration president and Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin on Friday (February 27, 2026).
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Mr. Panneerselvam arrived at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters in Chennai, round 9.40 a.m., accompanied by his son and former AIADMK Lok Sabha member from Theni P. Ravindranath, his supporter and Usilampatti MLA P. Ayyappan, and others. He was obtained by senior DMK leaders and Ministers.
Mr. Panneerselvam greeted Mr. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, entered his title within the DMK membership type, and formally joined the celebration. Mr. Stalin welcomed him to the celebration with a hug.
OPS ‘my expensive brother’, says Stalin
Later, in a publish on X, Mr. Stalin mentioned, “Former Chief Minister and my expensive brother O. Panneerselvam has joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the guardian organisation. I lengthen a heat welcome to him. Bearing the title of a towering chief of the Dravidian motion [Sir A.T. Panneerselvam], Mr. Panneerselvam has now aligned himself with our celebration that upholds the Dravidian ideology.”
OPS with CM M.Ok. Stalin at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai
| Picture Credit score:
Particular Association
“The 2026 Meeting election is a democratic battle between Tamil Nadu and the fascist BJP. Recognising this, varied democratic forces have been becoming a member of the DMK-led alliance,” Mr. Stalin mentioned, describing Mr. Panneerselvam as an affectionate, cultured, and humble particular person.
Addressing the media after becoming a member of the DMK, Mr. Panneerselvam mentioned, “As we speak, I’m glad to have joined the DMK, the guardian organisation based by ‘Perarignar’ Anna [former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai]. I categorical my because of DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thalapathy [as M.K. Stalin was fondly referred to by DMK workers] for inducting me into the DMK.”
‘Stalin has delivered development’
“In in the present day’s politics, Thalapathy is main the celebration and the federal government with a political tradition that embraces everybody, following the trail proven by Anna and Kalaignar [former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi]. Realising this, I’ve joined the DMK with immense happiness,” he mentioned.
“Edappadi Ok. Palaniswami [AIADMK general secretary], who behaves with conceitedness and authoritarian tendencies in politics, has created a scenario during which the AIADMK might by no means win in future. After the demise of Amma [as Jayalalithaa was fondly referred to by AIADMK workers], lakhs of AIADMK cadres have accepted Thalapathy’s management and joined the DMK. This exhibits that the nation is intently watching him,” Mr. Panneerselvam mentioned.
By main the DMK, Mr. Stalin has set the grammar for the way to lead a political celebration by embracing everybody. Over the past 5 years as Chief Minister, Mr. Stalin has supplied good governance and development throughout all departments with dedication and dedication to the individuals, he mentioned, including: “Particularly, girls are glad that they’ve been receiving help from the federal government to assist them lead their households with dignity and confidence.”
“Like how Anna approached all events within the Meeting with camaraderie, the Chief Minister, too, offers equal alternative to all members to talk within the Meeting, fastidiously listens to their views, and offers acceptable responses and this has impressed the individuals of Tamil Nadu,” he mentioned.
“The individuals of Tamil Nadu have been supporting the DMK by giving it consecutive victories. Within the centenary of the Dravidian motion, regardless of many makes an attempt to destroy it beneath varied circumstances, Thalapathy stands agency on the trail of Anna and Kalaignar, defending and safeguarding the Dravidian ideology,” Mr. Panneerselvam mentioned.
EPS main AIADMK to say no: OPS
Referring to Mr. Palaniswami as “interim normal secretary,” Mr. Panneerselvam mentioned, “From the day [Mr.] Palaniswami assumed duty as the overall secretary in an authoritarian method, he has been main the AIADMK in the direction of decline. Realising this, many AIADMK cadres have began becoming a member of the DMK. [Mr.] Palaniswami was eager on stopping leaders from the southern districts from rising in politics and sidelined them in any respect ranges.”
He mentioned he had joined the DMK as a main member and asserted that this was his personal choice, made with none stress or compulsion from anybody. He mentioned he would positively contest the Meeting election if Mr. Stalin gave him the chance.
Responding to a query on AIADMK leaders referring to the DMK as an “evil drive,” he mentioned he had by no means described the ruling celebration as such. He additionally mentioned the AIADMK has no future and there was no drive able to opposing the DMK within the upcoming election.
After spending almost an hour at Anna Arivalayam, Mr. Panneerselvam left for the Secretariat to resign from his MLA publish. He was representing the Bodinayakkanur Meeting phase as an AIADMK member. His supporter Mr. Ayyappan, additionally resigned from his MLA publish.
Within the morning, safety was beefed up at Anna Arivalayam as lots of of supporters of Mr. Panneerselvam from Theni, Madurai, Tirupathur, and different districts arrived there. In addition they raised slogans in opposition to Mr. Palaniswami. After Mr. Panneerselvam joined the DMK, his loyalists met Mr. Udhayanidhi and greeted him.
Even when Mr. Panneerselvam was on the DMK headquarters to hitch the celebration, his automobile had a small {photograph} of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
At the same time as he arrived on the DMK headquarters to hitch the celebration, OPS nonetheless carried {a photograph} of Jayalalithaa in his automobile, reflecting his continued reverence for the chief
| Picture Credit score:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Indicators of change
On February 20, the final sitting of the 16th Tamil Nadu Legislative Meeting, Mr. Panneerselvam had referred to as on Mr. Stalin on the premises of the Home and mentioned the ruling DMK has a excessive probability of retaining energy.
On the identical day, Mr. Ayyappan brazenly praised Mr. Stalin on the ground of the Home and mentioned that “with the blessings of ‘Puratchi Thalaivar’ MGR and ‘Puratchi Thalaivi’ Amma,” referring to former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, Mr. Stalin would win the upcoming Meeting elections and return to energy. His remarks drew loud applause from members of the DMK-led alliance.
Mr. Panneerselvam and his supporters had been expelled from the AIADMK in July 2022. He unsuccessfully contested the Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha seat as an Unbiased candidate backed by the BJP-led NDA within the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Final yr, after exiting the NDA, Mr. Panneerselvam had met Mr. Stalin twice inside a span of 24 hours, sparking hypothesis about him becoming a member of the DMK. Later, he additionally met Union Dwelling Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Mr. Panneerselvam, who additionally served as Deputy Chief Minister in Mr. Palaniswami-led AIADMK authorities between 2017 and 2021 and enjoys appreciable assist from his Mukkulathor group in southern Tamil Nadu, was the fourth AIADMK legislator to modify sides in latest instances.
Earlier, former Faculty Schooling Minister Ok.A. Sengottaiyan, who represented Gobichettipalayam within the Meeting, resigned from his MLA publish to hitch actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Mr. Panneerselvam’s supporters Paul Manoj Pandian and R. Vaithilingam, who represented Alangulam and Orathanad Meeting segments respectively, stop their MLA posts and joined the DMK.
