Chennai, February 27 Three-time AIADMK Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, who held top party positions before his expulsion in 2022, joined the ruling DMK on Friday in the presence of its president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Panneerselvam, a trusted confidant of the late AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa and popularly known as OPS, joined arch rival DMK after unsuccessfully trying to rejoin his parent party for over three years.
OPS, who had served as AIADMK Treasurer and also held the erstwhile top position of party coordinator, joined the DMK along with his son, P. Ravindhranath Kumar, and supporters. Panneerselvam had also briefly served as Leader of the Opposition after the DMK formed the government in 2006.
Speaking to reporters, Panneerselvam expressed happiness in joining the DMK and criticized AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami as an "autocrat" and "arrogant" who has created a situation of "no victory" for the AIADMK at all times.
In response to questions related to the situation he faced in the AIADMK following his expulsion, he said he was not concerned about the past and that he would abide by Chief Minister Stalin's directives.
Chief Minister Stalin understands the needs of the people and delivers welfare schemes to all sections of the people without any bias, he said and denied labeling the DMK as an evil force.
He claimed that today, there is no one party that could oppose the DMK.
Panneerselvam, a trusted confidant of the late AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa and popularly known as OPS, joined arch rival DMK after unsuccessfully trying to rejoin his parent party for over three years.
OPS, who had served as AIADMK Treasurer and also held the erstwhile top position of party coordinator, joined the DMK along with his son, P. Ravindhranath Kumar, and supporters. Panneerselvam had also briefly served as Leader of the Opposition after the DMK formed the government in 2006.
Speaking to reporters, Panneerselvam expressed happiness in joining the DMK and criticized AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami as an "autocrat" and "arrogant" who has created a situation of "no victory" for the AIADMK at all times.
In response to questions related to the situation he faced in the AIADMK following his expulsion, he said he was not concerned about the past and that he would abide by Chief Minister Stalin's directives.
Chief Minister Stalin understands the needs of the people and delivers welfare schemes to all sections of the people without any bias, he said and denied labeling the DMK as an evil force.
He claimed that today, there is no one party that could oppose the DMK.