Chennai (TIP)- The BJP‘s Tamil Nadu election plans took a hit after expelled AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam – from the influential Thevar community – led loyalists out of the national party-led alliance. OPS was reportedly miffed at being excluded from meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit earlier this week. He was also excluded from the guest list when Home Minister Amit Shah visited.
This was after AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami revived BJP ties before the election.
OPS loyalist Panruti Ramachandran confirmed the withdrawal; pressed on the reason for the break-up Mr Ramachandran, flanked by his boss, told reporters “the reason is widely known”.
The ex-Chief Minister’s future plans will be announced shortly, Mr Ramachandran said. “… a right alliance to lead the people in the right direction will materialise in the future”.
For now, he also said, OPS will travel the state ahead of the 2026 Assembly election.
There was plenty of buzz after OPS met DMK boss and Chief Minister MK Stalin this morning, but the meeting was played down as a chance encounter during a morning constitutional.
There was plenty of buzz after OPS met DMK boss and Chief Minister MK Stalin this morning, but the meeting was played down as a chance encounter during a morning constitutional.
But an alliance with the DMK could be problematic given OPS is seen as the ‘true heir’ of AIADMK icon and ex-Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who hand-picked him as her stand-in when she had to step down. Joining hands with her arch-rivals will anger his supporters.
He could contest next year’s election solo. But recent solo results have been a disaster. Nevertheless, by going on his own he will split votes from the Thevar community and dent the AIADMK’s prospects. He will also almost certainly not win enough seats to form the government, but could win enough, backed by the Thevar voters, to become a ‘kingmaker’ and secure his own political future.
Or he could patch up with the Bharatiya Janata Party and return to the NDA fold.
The BJP and he were allies for the 2024 Lok Sabha poll; this was when the AIADMK itself had split from the national party.