Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam formally joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in Chennai, in the presence of Chief Minister and DMK President M. K. Stalin. The development marks a major political realignment ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
O. Panneerselvam, who served three terms as Chief Minister under the AIADMK, joined the DMK along with his son P. Ravindhranath Kumar and his supporters. Senior DMK leaders were present at the event, where Stalin formally welcomed him into the party.
Speaking to the media after joining the DMK, O. Panneerselvam said, “I am very happy to join the DMK. This is the parent party of the AIADMK.” He added, “The AIADMK emerged from the DMK. I have joined the parent organisation.”
He further said, “Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has led an excellent government,” and stated that the DMK government’s schemes had benefited people from all sections of society. O. Panneerselvam also clarified his past political position by saying, “I have never said that the DMK is a bad party.”
Referring to his exit from the AIADMK, O. Panneerselvam said that internal democracy no longer existed in the party. Taking aim at AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, he said, “Edappadi Palaniswami will never be able to win again.” He alleged that the AIADMK was being run in an autocratic manner and said such leadership had weakened the party’s electoral prospects.
“Dear Brother”
Welcoming O. Panneerselvam into the DMK, M. K. Stalin referred to him as a “dear brother” and said he was being welcomed with affection. Stalin said that O. Panneerselvam’s political experience would add strength to the DMK and reiterated the party’s commitment to Dravidian ideology and social justice.
Background to the Political Shift
O. Panneerselvam was expelled from the AIADMK following a prolonged leadership dispute after the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. The AIADMK initially functioned under a dual leadership model involving O. Panneerselvam and Edappadi Palaniswami, which was later scrapped in favour of a single leadership structure, leading to O. Panneerselvam’s removal from the party.
After joining the DMK, O. Panneerselvam said he would continue to be active in politics and was willing to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections if given an opportunity by the DMK leadership. His entry into the ruling party comes amid heightened political activity in the state as parties prepare for the upcoming Assembly elections.
– Magizh
