OPS calls on CM, says DMK stands a chance of retaining power

Former Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader, O. Panneerselvam, who seems to be running out of options for the Assembly election, on Friday called on Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on the premises of the House and said the ruling DMK stood a chance of retaining power.

This was not the first time Mr. Panneerselvam had met Mr. Stalin. About seven months ago, the two had met during Mr. Stalin’s morning walk at the Theosophical Society in Adyar, and later at his residence in Alwarpet here. It was around the time that he terminated his relationship with the BJP, which had by then, struck an electoral deal with the AIADMK led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Speaking to journalists outside the Assembly chamber, Mr. Pannerselvam said: “The general view is that the achievements of the regime in the last five years are deeply entrenched in the minds of the people.”

On his supporter-legislator P. Ayyappan’s observation in the House that the DMK would return to power “with the blessings of former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa”, Mr. Panneerselvam said that he had reflected the view of the people of Tamil Nadu.

As for his meeting with Mr. Stalin, the three-time former Chief Minister said he greeted the Chief Minister on the successful completion of the DMK government’s five-year term.

Even though Mr. Palaniswami took Mr. Panneerselvam’s erstwhile ally, AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran, into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) fold, he had made it clear that there was no space for Mr. Panneerselvam and the AIADMK’s former interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala.

In October last, the birth anniversary celebration of Forward Bloc leader U. Muthuramalinga Thevar in Pasumpon, Ramanathapuram district, witnessed Mr. Panneerselvam, Mr. Dhinakaran, and former School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan — known till about a year ago as the Erode face of the AIADMK — coming together.

Subsequently, the former Chief Minister and the Erode strongman met Ms. Sasikala in Pasumpon. These developments triggered speculation on whether the four leaders might join hands and take on the AIADMK. 

Nothing of the sort happened, however, as Mr. Sengottaiyan joined actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam a month later. Mr. Dhinakaran chose to become a junior partner of the AIADMK and go back to the NDA.

Ms. Sasikala, who held consultations with her followers for about a week, has not yet revealed her stand. She is scheduled to address a meeting in Kamuthi of the Ramanathapuram district on February 24 to mark the birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa.

At one stage, Mr. Panneerselvam sounded conciliatory towards Mr. Vijay. At an internal meeting of his group, a section of his supporters favoured an alliance with the TVK.

However, in the last six months, many of his followers, including former Urban Development Minister R. Vaithilingam and former legislator A. Subburathinam crossed over to the DMK, while a handful of the former members of his camp — J.C.D. Prabhakar and K.P. Krishnan — joined the TVK.  On Thursday, the political adviser of his group, Panruti S. Ramachandran, announced his decision to launch a party, MGR ADMK.