OPS Joins DMK: With just few months remaining in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, three-time AIADMK Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Friday joined the rival DMK in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin. Popularly known as OPS and once considered close to AIADMK stalwart late J Jayalalithaa, Panneerselvam held several key posts in the party. However, he decided to join the arch-rivals after failing to re-join AIADMK since his expulsion from the party back in 2022. While appreciating Stalin, Panneerselvam stated that chief minister has a great understanding of the issues of the state.
While talking to the reporters, Panneerselvam slammed the current leadership of AIADMK by labeling party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami as an "autocrat" and "arrogant". He further stated that Palaniswami has weakened the party, further stating that he created a situation of "no-victory" for the AIADMK at all times. On being asked about the reasons behind his decision, the former chief minister stated that he was not interested in discussing the past.
Earlier last week, Panneerselvam said that he was ready to quit politics if Palaniswami proved the allegations against him. "I have been a legislator. I have been a CM. I have also been a coordinator of the party. What mistake did I commit? Have I ever raised a hand against a worker? If you can simply tell me what mistake I have made, I will leave politics," he asserted on the occasion of 78th birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa.
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"When the Revolutionary Leader (M G Ramachandran) launched this party and codified these rules in writing, who are you to change it? I have raised this question, and the matter is now in the Court," he added. Panneerselvam's decision to join DMK is likely to provide a big boost to the ruling party.
While OPS was sidelined in the state politics due to conflict with Palaniswami, he will try to regain his lost ground in the upcoming assembly polls, but with a new political party.