Expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and three-time former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam formally joined the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday, February 27, in a significant political realignment ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The 75-year-old veteran politician, widely known as OPS and a longtime confidant of late AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa, was inducted into the DMK at the party's headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

Panneerselvam, who was expelled from the AIADMK in 2022 following a bitter power struggle with party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), arrived at the venue accompanied by supporters and was welcomed by senior DMK leaders, including Minister P.K. Sekarbabu. In his remarks after joining, OPS praised Stalin's leadership, stating that the Chief Minister was delivering good governance visible to the people. He emphasized his commitment to the Dravidian movement's principles, declaring that the DMK was actively working to uphold them, while criticizing EPS for allegedly preventing strong leaders from the southern region from rising. OPS described himself as joining as an ordinary cadre, ready to work for the party's growth.

The move comes amid speculation that OPS had been sending feelers to the DMK for some time, accelerated by recent developments within the AIADMK, including EPS's decision to welcome another expelled leader, TTV Dhinakaran of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), into the NDA fold. Sources indicate that EPS remained firm against reinstating OPS, leaving him with limited options as assembly polls approach. Reports suggest the DMK may field him from his previous constituency, Bodinayakkanur in Theni district, which he won in 2021.

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This high-profile crossover is seen as a major blow to the AIADMK's unity and support base in southern Tamil Nadu, where OPS holds considerable influence among Thevar communities and loyalists of Jayalalithaa's era. It highlights the fluid and often dramatic nature of Dravidian politics, where former rivals can become allies in pursuit of electoral advantage. The induction strengthens the DMK's position by potentially consolidating anti-EPS factions and adding a seasoned leader with administrative experience to its ranks.

As Tamil Nadu gears up for the 2026 elections, this development could reshape alliances and voter dynamics in key regions. Political observers note that OPS's defection underscores ongoing internal rifts in the opposition AIADMK and the ruling DMK's strategy to broaden its appeal. While no immediate role has been announced for him beyond cadre membership, the move signals deeper strategic maneuvering by both major Dravidian parties in the run-up to what promises to be a fiercely contested assembly battle.

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