Chennai: In a politically significant development, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) convened a surprise meeting with key members of the AIADMK Rights Retrieval Committee amid growing tension within the Tamil Nadu political landscape.
The meeting comes in the wake of OPS not being granted an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s visit to Tamil Nadu — a snub that appears to have triggered a sharper political stance from the former AIADMK coordinator.
Following the meeting, OPS issued a strong statement condemning the central government for the manner in which funds were released to the Tamil Nadu state government. The comments mark a clear departure from the AIADMK faction’s previous alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Adding weight to the developments, veteran leader and OPS’s political advisor Panruti Ramachandran told the media:
“We are breaking away from the NDA. The country knows the reasons. OPS will undertake a statewide tour across Tamil Nadu to engage with the people. As of now, there is no alliance with any political party. Future decisions will be taken based on evolving circumstances.”
He further added that the three key resolutions were made after over three hours of deliberations, underscoring the seriousness of the internal discussions.
The meeting was attended by senior OPS supporters including R. Vaithilingam, Manoj Pandian, and OPS’s sons, reflecting a united front within his faction.
As OPS exited the venue after the meeting, his supporters were seen shouting slogans such as:
“Down with the traitor Edappadi! Down with Gurumurthy! Down with Annamalai!”
These public chants, directed at senior BJP leaders and Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), reflect escalating tensions between OPS’s faction and former allies.
Meanwhile, Panruti Ramachandran's continued support for actor Vijay and his rising political image adds another layer of speculation about the future alliances and direction of OPS’s political journey.
With OPS now distancing himself from both NDA and EPS-led AIADMK, the road ahead appears to be a new phase of independent political mobilization — one likely to influence Tamil Nadu’s political equations in the coming months.