Just before the assembly elections, Jayalalithaa’s loyal former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam’s move towards DMK
Late AIADMK leader J. Jayalalitha’s most trusted commander O. Panneerselvam has joined Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) just ahead of the crucial assembly elections. Panneerselvam, popularly known as OPS, reached DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam in Chennai and met Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his son, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi joined the party in Stalin’s presence. This is a major blow to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which leads the opposition NDA in the state. The AIADMK is already grappling with infighting and a leadership crisis following the demise of Jayalalitha. OPS had been thinking about the change for almost a year. Sources say that they were just looking for the right opportunity, which they have found. His arch rival in AIADMK is General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had almost closed the doors for his return to the party. His efforts to make a comeback into AIADMK were reportedly unsuccessful despite attempts to contact BJP leaders.
Finally recently OPS met the Chief Minister. According to DMK sources, he may be given a seat in the upcoming assembly elections. This indicates that the ruling party is seeing electoral benefits from his arrival. After joining DMK, OPS met Chief Minister M.K. Praising Stalin, he said, “The entire country is looking at his leadership.” He said Stalin had brought progress in all areas and given stable governance to Tamil Nadu.
Also, OPS hit out at Palaniswami and said, “He has created a situation in which AIADMK will never be able to succeed.” He and his colleague Ayyappan resigned from their MLA seats.
OPS was the Chief Minister three times. Twice as a makeshift arrangement and once full time. Although his tenure was very short. J. When Jayalalitha had to step down following court decisions, OPS emerged as a trustworthy person. Promotion to OPS was considered a reward for his steadfast loyalty. After the death of Jayalalitha in 2016, the equations within AIADMK changed a lot. OPS found itself alone in the middle of an internal power struggle.
In the long struggle that followed, he was not able to strengthen his place in the party. After Jayalalitha’s death, OPS V.K. Openly challenged Sasikala, which many saw as her attempt to emerge as an independent power center in the AIADMK. But Palaniswami gradually pushed him to the margins.
According to many experts, OPS finds it convenient to remain in the second row under some leader. After Jayalalitha’s death he moved closer to BJP. He left AIADMK and formed a coordination committee and joined BJP. His Dravidian supporters were shocked. Before the last Lok Sabha elections, AIADMK broke ties with BJP under the leadership of Palaniswami, even then OPS remained associated with BJP. But they did not get any benefit from this. According to his aides, the “worst behaviour” happened when AIADMK again linked up with BJP. After this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly refused to meet him. It is believed that this ignorance pushed him towards his arch rival DMK.
It is said that during his morning walk a few months ago, OPS “coincidentally” met Chief Minister M.K. After meeting Stalin, there was speculation that relations between the two would improve. At that time he had dismissed these rumors. Later a BJP leader claimed that OPS had taken the help of BJP to return to AIADMK, but Palaniswami remained adamant.
AIADMK MLA K.A. When Sengottaiyan left the party, there were also speculations that the OPS actor might join Vijay’s new party TVK. But eventually he reached DMK.
According to DMK insiders, he may be fielded from Bodinayakanur assembly seat or any nearby seat in southern Tamil Nadu. OPS belongs to the Thevar (Mukkulathor) community, which is said to constitute about 10-12 per cent of the population of Tamil Nadu, and has a significant population in the southern districts. The AIADMK has traditionally depended on the social equation of the Thevar community in the south and the Gounder community in western Tamil Nadu. DMK wants to weaken AIADMK in the south by breaking into the Thevar vote bank through OPS.