Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, an expelled AIADMK leader, is set to join the DMK party today in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. This move occurs weeks before the 2026 state assembly elections and follows recent meetings between Panneerselvam and Stalin. The development may reshape Tamil Nadu's political dynamics.
O. Panneerselvam, a three-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and former coordinator of the AIADMK, was expelled from the party in July 2022. After falling out with AIADMK and terminating ties with the BJP, he has been meeting with DMK leaders. On February 21, 2026, Panneerselvam called on Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the state assembly premises and stated that the ruling DMK stood a chance of retaining power, citing their achievements in the past five years.
Two days later, on February 24, Panneerselvam mentioned that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had informed him the DMK-led alliance remained 'strong' and would win the assembly election against the 'not united' AIADMK. This was not his first interaction with Stalin; about seven months earlier, they met during Stalin's morning walk at the Theosophical Society in Adyar and at his residence in Alwarpet, around the time Panneerselvam ended his relationship with the BJP, which had allied with AIADMK under Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Panneerselvam is expected to join the DMK at its headquarters on February 27, 2026, in the presence of Stalin and other leaders. Supporters of Panneerselvam have already switched sides; for instance, former AIADMK Minister and MLA R. Vaithilingam resigned from the assembly on January 21, 2026, and joined the DMK in Chennai. He is the second such MLA after P.H. Manoj. The Tamil Nadu assembly elections are slated for 2026, and this shift could dent AIADMK's support base.