With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections drawing closer, political equations in the state are shifting rapidly. The AIADMK, aiming to mount a strong challenge against the ruling DMK, has been working to consolidate opposition forces. Party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) has already strengthened his camp by aligning with the BJP and recently bringing Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader TTV Dinakaran into the AIADMK-led alliance—an unexpected move after years of rivalry. Against this backdrop, fresh speculation has emerged over whether expelled AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) could be heading back to his old party.
The buzz intensified after OPS convened an emergency consultation meeting in Theni to deliberate on the next phase of electoral strategy. The meeting was held at his farmhouse near Periyakulam and witnessed sharp differences of opinion among party functionaries and supporters.
During the interaction, OPS asked attendees to write down their views and expectations regarding future political alignments. This exercise, however, led to visible friction. While some cadres expressed support for rejoining the AIADMK-led front, others voiced strong opposition, triggering heated exchanges and momentary chaos at the gathering.
Following the meeting, OPS urged restraint in public discourse, asking the media and political observers not to jump to conclusions about his future plans. He reiterated that divergent opinions are a natural part of democracy and should not be sensationalised.
OPS also underlined that the AIADMK Volunteers’ Rights Recovery Association, which he currently leads, is focused on legal efforts to safeguard the rights of party cadres. He recalled contesting as an independent candidate in Ramanathapuram under the jackfruit symbol, stating that the exercise was meant to assess grassroots support and highlight challenges faced by volunteers.
Clarifying his political intent, OPS stressed that his movement was never meant to contest elections independently or to create a new political party. Instead, its core objective has been to restore unity within the AIADMK. He reiterated that the long-term goal has always been to protect and revive the party, not to pursue power alone.
OPS also indicated that he has no immediate plans to float a separate party or enter the electoral fray independently. He attributed the launch of the second “Dharmayutham” against EPS to the actions of senior leaders Vaithilingam and Manoj Pandian.
In a significant political signal, OPS openly stated that he is prepared to rejoin the AIADMK if circumstances allow, adding that the final call rests with EPS. He suggested that any decision on his return must come from the current party leadership.
He also referred to the inclusion of TTV Dinakaran in the AIADMK alliance, urging that broader unity among former rivals could strengthen the party ahead of the elections. The developments from Theni have added a fresh twist to Tamil Nadu politics, leaving observers keenly watching whether EPS will respond to OPS’ overtures.
