Chennai: In a significant development ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) on Thursday signalled his openness to political reunification, stating, “I am ready to unite… are they ready?” However, he emphasized that the final decision must be made by his “elder brother” and AIADMK general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS).
OPS’s Conditional Offer: “I am ready to unite… are they ready?”
Speaking to reporters in Theni after consultations with his supporters, OPS sought to quell speculation and internal dissent. “I am ready to unite… are they ready? TTV Dhinakaran has also been saying the same thing. The final decision must be made by my elder brother Edappadi,” he stated. He dismissed rumors of discord as attempts to create confusion, asserting, “We are all like brothers… some are spreading false news.”
Pressure Mounts as Cadre Drift and NDA Negotiations Loom
The statement comes amid growing pressure on OPS, whose AIADMK Cadre Rights Retrieval Association has remained conspicuously silent on alliances while key supporters have drifted away to other parties, including the DMK. With only a few recognizable faces like Vellamandi Natarajan and MLA Ayyappan remaining, OPS’s political relevance is at a crossroads. His supporters indicate that a move to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), where EPS’s AIADMK and TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK are already partners, is under discussion, with seat-sharing being negotiated.
BJP’s Calculus and the Path to a Consolidated Anti-DMK Front
The BJP, keen on maximizing the anti-DMK vote share, is reportedly showing “keen interest” in bringing OPS into the NDA fold to present a fully unified front. OPS’s remarks align with AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran’s recent public stance favoruing unity, putting the onus squarely on EPS to decide whether to embrace his erstwhile rival and potentially consolidate a broader AIADMK family vote bank.