‘Snap’ decision: OPS trades Amma’s iconic portrait for Stalin’s smile | India News
New Delhi: O Panneerselvam Moments before the formal accession on Friday, the chief minister made an interesting political statement by replacing a picture of his late mentor J Jayalalithaa with MK Stalin in his car. DMK in chennaiThe carefully timed gesture on arrival at DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam underscored a dramatic shift in allegiance for the three-time former chief minister who once symbolized unwavering loyalty to the AIADMK supremo. Jayalalithaa’s picture had long occupied pride of place on the dashboard of his car; Its removal signals a decisive break from its political past.the former Tamil Nadu The chief minister and Panneerselvam joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Chennai on Friday, formally switching sides ahead of the upcoming 2026 assembly elections. Charged in the presence of chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin at the party headquarters, Panneerselvam said he would work for the party as a cadre, which would mark a significant reshuffle in the state’s political landscape.“I have joined DMK. I will work and support DMK cadre,” Panneerselvam told reporters soon after his induction. His son P Rabindranath Kumar also joined the party.Welcoming him into the fold, Stalin described Panneerselvam as a “dear brother” and praised his humility and virtues.“Former CM and dear brother Thiru. O. Panneerselvam has joined the mother organisation, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. I welcome him with open arms. He, who bears the name of the great leader of the Dravidian movement, has joined our great movement to protect the ideals of the Dravidian movement,” he posted on X.Framing the development in the context of the next assembly elections, Stalin added:“2026 assembly election is a democratic fight between Tamil Nadu and fascist BJP. It is from this realization that various democratic forces are joining the DMK alliance. Our brother, who has joined us, Thiru. O. Panneerselvam is a loving person, a virtuous person, a humble person! May his arrival be for our Tamil Nadu!”Explaining his decision, Panneerselvam said he chose to join the DMK to draw a line under his troubled past in the AIADMK.“The decision I have taken is my own, to put a full stop to the bitter experience for me. I thank the CM and DMK president Stalin for accepting me to join the DMK. I joined the DMK with complete joy. The EPS is behaving like a dictator, and he has created a situation where the AIADMK cannot win,” Panneerselvam told reporters.Panneerselvam was expelled from the AIADMK in 2022 after a long leadership feud with Edappadi K Palaniswami, a rift that reshaped the party’s internal power structure and ultimately paved the way for his latest political move.
