2 months ago
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In a seismic realignment of the Tamil Nadu governmental scenery conscionable a fewer months up of the State Legislative Assembly elections, O. Panneerselvam, three-time erstwhile Chief Minister and a staunch loyalist erstwhile AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, joined the DMK successful the beingness of enactment president and Chief Minister M.K Stalin connected Friday (February 27, 2026).
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Mr. Pannerselvam, incumbent AIADMK MLA from Bodinayakkanur, on with his supporters, including Usilampatti MLA P. Ayyappan, arrived astatine Anna Arivalayam, the DMK office connected Friday morning, and was received by DMK Ministers. Later, helium filled the DMK rank signifier to officially articulation the party.
‘Stalin has delivered growth’
“It gives maine immense happiness that I person joined the ‘Thaai Kazhagam’ (parent party), the DMK, founded by Perarignar Anna [former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai],” Mr. Pannerselvam portion addressing the media.
He thanked Mr. Stalin by referring to him arsenic ‘Thalapathy’. “In the way and governmental civilization of embracing everyone shown by Anna [C.N. Annadurai] and Kalaignar [M. Karunanidhi], Thalapathy is starring the enactment and the government,” helium said.
Even arsenic helium arrived astatine the DMK office to articulation the party, OPS inactive carried a photograph of Jayalalithaa successful his car, reflecting his continued reverence for the leader
“The full state is intimately watching the enactment of Mr. Stalin. He has acceptable the grammar for however to tally a governmental party. Over the past 5 years, Mr. Stalin, arsenic Chief Minister, has delivered maturation crossed each sectors and has been providing an businesslike and commendable medication to the radical of Tamil Nadu,” helium further said.
He added that AIADMK wide caput Edappadi. K. Palaniswami was “conducting himself successful authorities similar an autocrat, with an arrogant approach.”
“Mr. Palaniswami has created a concern successful which the AIADMK whitethorn ne'er beryllium capable to execute occurrence successful politics. After Amma’s [Jayalalithaa] death, lakhs of AIADMK cadre joined the DMK nether Thalapathi’s [Mr. Stalin] leadership,” Mr. Panneerselvam said.
Signs of a shift
On February 20, the last sitting of the 16th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Mr. Pannerselvam had called connected Mr. Stalin connected the premises of the House and said that the ruling DMK had a accidental of retaining power.
On the aforesaid day, Mr. Ayyappan openly praised Mr. Stalin connected the level of the House and said with the blessings of ‘Puratchi Thalaivar’ MGR and ‘Puratchi Thalaivi’ Amma” – referring to erstwhile Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa – Mr. Stalin would triumph the upcoming Assembly elections and instrumentality to power. His remarks drew large applause from members of the DMK-led alliance.
Mr. Panneerselvam and his supporters were expelled from the AIADMK successful July 2022. He unsuccessfully contested the Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha spot arsenic an Independent campaigner backed by the BJP-led NDA successful the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Last year, aft exiting the NDA, Mr. Pannneerselvam had met Mr. Stalin doubly wrong a span of 24 hours, sparking speculations of him joining the DMK. Later, helium besides met Union Home Minister Amit Shah successful New Delhi.
Mr. Panneerselvam, who had besides served arsenic Deputy Chief Minister successful the Mr. Palaniswami-led AIADMK authorities from 2017 to 2021, was the 4th AIADMK legislator to power sides successful caller times.
Earlier, erstwhile School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, who represented Gobichettipalayam successful the Assembly, resigned from his MLA station to articulation histrion Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
