Chennai: Days after PM Narendra Modi declined to satisfy him and hours after he met Tamil Nadu CM M.Okay. Stalin throughout a morning stroll in Adyar, former AIADMK chief O. Panneerselvam (OPS) Thursday walked out of the Bharatiya Janata Celebration-led Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA). Not lengthy after Modi declined to satisfy him, OPS publicly started to criticise the BJP-led central authorities for ‘withholding funds’ below the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme—marking a shift from his earlier pro-BJP stance.

Chatting with reporters right here Thursday, OPS adviser and former state minister Panruti S. Ramachandran stated, “We’re breaking the alliance with NDA. You all know the explanation.”

On whether or not he would think about teaming up with actor-turned politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), former chief minister OPS stated, “Time will inform, and there may be nonetheless time for elections.”

Later within the night, OPS met Stalin at his residence. Chatting with reporters, he stated it was a proper assembly to inquire about his well being and “no politics was mentioned”. Requested if he would be a part of the DMK-led alliance, he stated, “Something can occur in politics. There may be sufficient time for elections. There isn’t a everlasting pal and everlasting enemy in politics.”

OPS was all the time seen as Modi’s man within the AIADMK. He himself publicly informed supporters in July 2017 that he determined to mix forces with AIADMK common secretary Edappadi Okay. Palaniswami (EPS) on the behest of the Prime Minister and Union House Minister Amit Shah.

Former coordinator of the AIADMK, OPS was expelled from the get together in July 2022 and has since been heading the AIADMK Cadres Rights Retrieval Committee—whereas legally contesting EPS’s management of the get together. Chennai-based political analysts ThePrint spoke to stated OPS has three choices, however it has but to be seen if he can broaden his help base.

Political analyst N. Sathiya Moorthy underlined that the primary concern between OPS and EPS was that the previous needed to steer AIADMK and function chief minister. “Now, if he joins any get together, he can’t be the chief ministerial face. Secondly, all these years, OPS is thought to have been ideologically aligned with BJP. He can not wash it off simply to affix any of the events in Tamil Nadu which can be anti-BJP together with Vijay’s TVK.”

Nevertheless, referring to the previous AIADMK chief’s assembly with Stalin, political commentator Raveenthran Duraisamy stated OPS may be a part of DMK and turn out to be its ‘Maravar face’. The Maravar is a backward neighborhood based in southern Tamil Nadu.

“He (OPS) was proven the doorways by BJP, therefore he can not return there. Although TVK and Seeman’s NTK are there for him, he may select DMK over others for a greater political house,” Duraisamy informed ThePrint. Sathiya Moorthy added that OPS may lose his help base if he joins the DMK, since its opposition to DMK has been a core tenet of the AIADMK.

Duraisamy, nevertheless, held a considerably totally different view. The dynamics in Dravidian politics, he stated, modified for the reason that demise of former chief ministers M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa.

“There isn’t a hate in opposition to Stalin, in contrast to his father Karunanidhi. The earlier elections knowledge reveals AIADMK’s votes have moved to DMK. Additionally it is confirmed that lots of former AIADMK ministers, together with Senthil Balaji, Sekar Babu and Okay.Okay.S.S.R. Ramachandran, are actually faring effectively in DMK as effectively. Therefore, OPS has a very good future within the DMK, however he might not reveal it now,” stated Duraisamy.

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From CM to insurgent: OPS’s political journey

After Jayalalithaa’s dying on 5 December, 2016, OPS was unanimously elected chief minister by AIADMK MLAs. He had already served as chief minister between 2001 and 2002, and 2014 and 2015 when Jayalalithaa confronted disqualification on account of a disproportionate belongings case.

By 7 February, 2017, OPS opened a entrance in opposition to Jayalalithaa’s shut aide V.Okay. Sasikala, who was then elected common secretary of the get together and chosen to exchange him as chief minister. He sat at Jayalalithaa’s memorial and launched a Dharmayudham (struggle of ideas) in opposition to Sasikala, who sacked him from the get together place. He asserted on the time that he was appointed to the get together submit by Jayalalithaa and no one may take away him.

Sasikala was convicted in a separate disproportionate belongings case, she declared EPS as the following chief minister earlier than going to jail.

In August 2017, OPS’s faction merged with EPS’s faction, after the latter turned in opposition to Sasikala and her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran.

On 21 August that yr, OPS was sworn in as deputy to CM EPS.

Within the get together construction, OPS held the place of coordinator, whereas EPS was joint-coordinator, establishing a dual-leadership within the get together.

Nevertheless, merger of the factions couldn’t stop infighting and the twin management mannequin collapsed in 2022 within the aftermath of AIADMK’s loss to the DMK-led alliance in Meeting polls the earlier yr.

Within the AIADMK common council assembly held in July 2022, EPS was unanimously elected interim common secretary and OPS, then coordinator and treasurer of the get together, was sacked from main membership, accused of collaborating with DMK, and making an attempt to disrupt get together actions.

OPS has since waged a lonely authorized battle to reclaim AIADMK management, alleging that the election of common secretary was unfair. The Madras Excessive Court docket and later the Supreme Court docket rejected his pleas to remain EPS’s election as common secretary. In the meantime, he additionally filed a petition with the Election Fee on this regard, through which inquiry continues to be pending.

Regardless of being expelled from AIADMK, OPS contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Ramanathapuram seat as an Impartial with BJP help below the “Jackfruit” image. He misplaced to IUML’s Okay. Navas Kani.

In February 2025, OPS’s camp expressed willingness to return to AIADMK, which EPS dismissed. After AIADMK and BJP formally revived their alliance for the 2026 Meeting elections, high BJP leaders together with Modi and Shah saved an arm’s distance from OPS throughout their visits to the state.

(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)

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