OPS calls on CM, says DMK stands a chance of retaining power

O. Panneerselvam claims DMK has a strong chance of retaining power, citing their achievements in the past five years.

Former Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader, O. Panneerselvam, who seems to be running out of options for the Assembly election, on Friday called on Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on the premises of the House and said the ruling DMK stood a chance of retaining power.

This was not the first time Mr. Panneerselvam had met Mr. Stalin. About seven months ago, the two had met during Mr. Stalin’s morning walk at the Theosophical Society in Adyar, and later at his residence in Alwarpet here. It was around the time that he terminated his relationship with the BJP, which had by then, struck an electoral deal with the AIADMK led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Speaking to journalists outside the Assembly chamber, Mr. Pannerselvam said: “The general view is that the achievements of the regime in the last five years are deeply entrenched in the minds of the people.”

On his supporter-legislator P. Ayyappan’s observation in the House that the DMK would return to power “with the blessings of former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa”, Mr. Panneerselvam said that he had reflected the view of the people of Tamil Nadu.

As for his meeting with Mr. Stalin, the three-time former Chief Minister said he greeted the Chief Minister on the successful completion of the DMK government’s five-year term.

Even though Mr. Palaniswami took Mr. Panneerselvam’s erstwhile ally, AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran, into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold, he had made it clear that there was no space for Mr. Panneerselvam and the AIADMK’s former interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala.