Battle for Tamil Nadu intensifies as OPS joins DMK, shares stage with Stalin

Three-time chief minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam

• O Panneerselvam joins DMK in presence of CM MK Stalin
• Move marks major shift in Tamil Nadu politics before 2026 polls
• Panneerselvam praises DMK's governance and election prospects

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Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam joined Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) on Friday, marking a significant twist in the state’s political landscape ahead of the Assembly elections.

He joined the DMK in the presence of Chief Minister MK Stalin. Speculation over Panneerselvam’s possible move towards the DMK gained momentum after he met the CM at the Secretariat on February 20.

After the meeting, Panneerselvam praised the DMK government’s performance. He also said Stalin's party had a strong chance of returning to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Former Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam joined the DMK in the presence of Chief Minister and DMK President M. K. Stalin

(Source: DMK) pic.twitter.com/1nZxtbWt2D — IANS (@ians_india) February 27, 2026

“The present political situation is like that. The achievements of the Chief Minister are deeply imprinted in the minds of the people based on the five-year good governance. The DMK has a chance to come back to power," Panneerselvam said.

The first signal of the move emerged last week when P Ayyappan, the last MLA seen as loyal to Panneerselvam, openly praised Stalin on the Assembly floor.

Ahead of him joining the DMK, security was beefed up at Anna Arivalayam, the headquarters of the DMK as supporters of Panneerselvam had gathered there.

Panneerselvam and his supporters were expelled from the AIADMK in July 2022. He unsuccessfully contested Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha seat as an independent candidate backed by the BJP-led NDA in 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Panneerselvam, a trusted confidant of late AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, after unsuccessfully struggling for over three years to join his parent outfit again, joined the DMK.

The latest developments unfold amid shifting political equations in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

The 234-member House is likely to head to the polls in the first half of 2026, with the DMK-led alliance seeking a second straight term in office.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance won a combined 159 seats, while the NDA secured 75, with the AIADMK emerging as the largest constituent within the BJP-led bloc.