In a seismic change in Tamil Nadu politics, former Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK heavyweight O Panneerselvam (OPS) finally joined the DMK today morning. This comes just weeks before the 2026 Assembly Elections and brings an end to the long-standing rivalry between the three-time Chief Minister and the party founded by MG Ramachandran.
The transition was made official at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, where Chief Minister MK Stalin welcomed OPS into the fold. The veteran leader arrived at the party office shortly after his son, Raveendran, was spotted at the premises. The defection follows years of internal turmoil for OPS, who was ousted from the AIADMK in 2022 after a bitter leadership struggle with Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS).
Earlier this week, a defiant OPS told reporters he would quit politics entirely if anyone could prove he had made a mistake during his tenure. He had been particularly critical of recent changes to the AIADMK’s by-laws, arguing that EPS had dismantled the democratic framework established by MGR. However, with the courts and the Election Commission largely siding with the EPS faction, and his recent efforts at reaching out to the BJP not yielding a united AIADMK, it appears that OPS has decided to side with his former opponents in order to ensure his survival in politics.
With his entry into the DMK, the already crowded scenario of the 2026 elections has got a new twist. The ruling DMK coalition, campaigning on the “Dravidian Model 2.0,” is now set to face a divided opposition. While the AIADMK and BJP attempt to find their footing, the arrival of actor-turned-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has already threatened to turn the traditional two-way contest into a triangular fight.
For OPS, the move is a homecoming of sorts to the "parent party" of the Dravidian movement, though it remains to be seen how the DMK rank and file will settle with a man who was, for decades, the face of their primary opposition.
Also read: AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran rejoins NDA ahead of TN polls
Follow us
