Palaniswami rejects Panneerselvam’s offer to rejoin AIADMK

Palaniswami firmly rejects Panneerselvam's rejoining offer, citing betrayal and a unanimous resolution against him in AIADMK.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday (January 29, 2026) rejected an offer from expelled party coordinator O. Panneerselvam to rejoin the parent organisation.

“There is no place for Mr. Panneerselvam in the party,” Mr. Palaniswami  said while addressing the media in Salem. “I have clarified on several occasions that Mr. Panneerselvam was removed from the party based on a unanimous resolution passed against him at the AIADMK general council meeting for betraying the party.”

When asked whether Mr. Panneerselvam could be accommodated in the AIADMK-led NDA as a constituent, he said, “We cannot speak about everything openly.”

Earlier in the day, Mr. Panneerselvam, coordinator of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Workers’ Rights Retrieval Kazhagam, expressed his willingness to rejoin the AIADMK. He, however, said the ball was in the court of Mr. Palaniswami. 

Turning his attention to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and actor Vijay, Mr. Palaniswami accused television channels of projecting him as an important factor in the coming Assembly election just to increase their TRP ratings.

In his sharpest attack on the actor-politician, he questioned, “What have they [the TVK] done?” The AIADMK is a golden jubilee party, and has ruled Tamil Nadu [cumulatively] for 31 years. We can list the schemes we have brought in. He is a big cinema star. But the best political party is the AIADMK. Mr. Vijay is not even speaking against the DMK. After the Karur stampede, Mr. Vijay could not even visit the families of the deceased. Then, what is the meaning of running a political party?” Mr. Vijay claimed that he had left acting at the peak of his career. “Only because of improper planning [by Mr. Vijay and the TVK), 41 people died in the stampede. Even during COVID-19, I had visited 30 districts. I do not underestimate anyone. But experience is needed to run a government,” he said.