O. Panneerselvam joins DMK; says ‘happy to be part of Thai Kazhagam’
The Hindu
O. Panneerselvam joins DMK, praising CM M.K. Stalin's leadership and signaling a political shift ahead of elections.
In a seismic realignment of the Tamil Nadu political landscape just a few months ahead of the State Legislative Assembly elections, O. Panneerselvam, three-time former Chief Minister and a staunch loyalist former AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, joined the DMK in the presence of party president and Chief Minister M.K Stalin on Friday (February 27, 2026).
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Mr. Pannerselvam, incumbent AIADMK MLA from Bodinayakkanur, along with his supporters, including Usilampatti MLA P. Ayyappan, arrived at Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters on Friday morning, and was received by DMK Ministers. Later, he filled the DMK membership form to officially join the party.
“It gives me immense happiness that I have joined the ‘Thaai Kazhagam’ (parent party), the DMK, founded by Perarignar Anna [former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai],” Mr. Pannerselvam while addressing the media.
He thanked Mr. Stalin by referring to him as ‘Thalapathy’. “In the path and political culture of embracing everyone shown by Anna [C.N. Annadurai] and Kalaignar [M. Karunanidhi], Thalapathy is leading the party and the government,” he said.
Even as he arrived at the DMK headquarters to join the party, OPS still carried a photograph of Jayalalithaa in his car, reflecting his continued reverence for the leader
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