O. Panneerselvam or OPS, the expelled AIADMK leader and the former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, on Thursday said he was willing to rejoin the party and this brought fresh political speculation to the state assembly elections later this year. This announcement is made only a few days after OPS rejected the possibility of starting a new political party which showed that he was shortly to clarify his future political intentions.
Addressing a meeting in Theni, Paneerselvam spoke to AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) referring to him as his elder brother and urging all factions within AIADMK to be united. He stressed on the necessity of uniting the party before the elections and proposed that his reentry would give the party a better position. My position of alliances is yet to be determined. We will keep on a legal struggle of our rights in AIADMK. I will be willing to join hands with AIADMK. TTV Dhinakaran is willing to accept me. Is EPS ready?” OPS was quoted as saying.
Nevertheless, EPS came out strongly and refused OPS the offer. He made it clear to the party members and supporters that OPS was not in any chance set to gain entry to the AIADMK and therefore there is no hope of really reconciling with him soon.
The outreach of OPS is indicative of the incessant tension within AIADMK with various groups cropping up after his expulsion. His commentaries highlight his desire to be politically relevant and to attract followers who still support him in the party. The conflict also augers a complicated future of AIADMK in the 2026 assembly elections, as in-house divisions are bound to define how the party selects its candidates and how it approaches the 2026 elections. According to political analysts, the standoff may affect the alliances, the campaign stories and voter mood during the critical months before the elections.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News