New Delhi: Amidst a period of intense political maneuvering in Tamil Nadu, former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (OPS) met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday night. The meeting occurs against the backdrop of OPS's push for what he terms "course correction" within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and follows the AIADMK's recent severing of ties with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
OPS, who was expelled from the AIADMK in 2022, has been advocating for the unification of various AIADMK factions, pointing to the party's electoral defeats since the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. He has given AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) a deadline of December 15th to initiate this "course correction". Palaniswami became the general secretary of the AIADMK on July 11, 2022.
Sources indicate that OPS's visit to Delhi was prompted by an invitation from Delhi leaders. Following the 20-minute meeting with Shah, OPS was asked to remain in the capital on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, OPS described the meeting as a "courtesy visit" where he discussed the prevailing political situation in Tamil Nadu. A senior BJP leader characterized the situation as "very fluid" and "more on the positive side".
The BJP leadership is reportedly attempting a course correction in Tamil Nadu, with Amit Shah directing party cadres to prioritize the state as a key battleground for the upcoming elections. The NDA's performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu was a mere 11.24% of the vote, spurring the BJP to seek ways to consolidate the anti-DMK front.
This effort includes reaching out to estranged AIADMK leaders like OPS and TTV Dhinakaran. The BJP is reportedly courting OPS and Dhinakaran to rebuild the NDA, even as actor Vijay's political party, Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), reshapes alliances and threatens to split the anti-DMK vote.
OPS faces a complex decision: rejoin the NDA under EPS, align with Vijay's TVK, or potentially join the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). Sources suggest that the NDA remains OPS's preferred option, encouraged by signals from Amit Shah's team.
Meanwhile, EPS has previously ruled out the re-entry of OPS and TTV Dhinakaran into the AIADMK. EPS has accused OPS of vandalizing the party headquarters and TTV Dhinakaran of attempting to topple the AIADMK government in the past.
The political landscape in Tamil Nadu is further complicated by the recent expulsion of AIADMK veteran KA Sengottaiyan, who has since joined Vijay's TVK. Sengottaiyan's move is seen as a boost to the newly formed TVK ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
The AIADMK, founded in 1972 by M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), has been a dominant force in Tamil Nadu politics. However, the party has faced challenges in recent years, including controversies, legal battles, and internal divisions. The outcome of OPS's efforts to unify the party and the BJP's attempts to consolidate the NDA could significantly impact the political landscape in Tamil Nadu as the 2026 Assembly polls approach.
