Political Turmoil in Tamil Nadu Ahead of Assembly Elections
In a surprising turn of events, O. Panneerselvam, a former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has joined the DMK, potentially altering the political dynamics ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. This shift comes after his expulsion from AIADMK amid a power struggle with Edappadi K. Palaniswami. As the elections approach, the implications of this move could be significant, with AIADMK also rejoining the BJP-led alliance. The assembly elections are set to take place in April or May, alongside other states, making this a critical time for Tamil Nadu's political landscape.
Feb 27, 2026, 10:29 IST
Political Shift in Tamil Nadu
As the Tamil Nadu assembly elections approach, the state's political landscape has experienced a significant upheaval. O. Panneerselvam (OPS), a former Chief Minister and expelled leader from AIADMK, joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday, accompanied by his supporters. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin personally welcomed Panneerselvam into the party, a move that could dramatically alter the power dynamics in the state.
The 75-year-old Panneerselvam, who has served as Chief Minister three times, is expected to contest from the Bodinayakkanur assembly constituency in Theni district. Notably, he won the last election from this seat, securing over 100,000 votes against DMK candidate Thanga Tamil Selvan, who received 89,029 votes.
Panneerselvam, once considered a close ally of J. Jayalalithaa, was expelled from AIADMK amid a power struggle with his rival Edappadi K. Palaniswami. He had openly campaigned against Palaniswami's leadership, who is also a former Chief Minister and known as EPS among his supporters.
Recently, Palaniswami hinted at a possible return to AIADMK and expressed his willingness to accept EPS's leadership. During a rally in Theni last month, he stated, "I am ready to rejoin AIADMK. TTV Dhinakaran is prepared to welcome me," and referred to Palaniswami as his elder brother.
However, Palaniswami rejected Panneerselvam's attempts to rejoin AIADMK, asserting that there was no place for him in the party. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has distanced itself from the situation, with the state unit chief Nainar Nagendran labeling it an internal matter of AIADMK. He remarked in January, "The issue between them is an internal matter of their party, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on it."
AIADMK had previously exited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but has now rejoined the BJP-led coalition. The elections for the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly are scheduled to take place in April or May this year, alongside elections in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.