Former Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam Joined DMK.

Chennai; February 2026: Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam has joined Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) today morning at around 10:20 hours in the presence of the Chief Minister MK Stalin, ahead of the forthcoming Tamil Nadu elections, sources said. This move follows recent praise by the OPS camp for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and prediction related to return of DMK government in the state. Before Panneerselvam’s arrival, his son Raveendran was the first to arrive at the DMK HQ.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu MLA P Ayyappan, who is seen as part of former CM O Paneer Selvam’s camp, expressed his desire to see M. Stalin lead the state again following the next assembly polls. Ayyappan stated in the Assembly that M K Stalin must once again become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With the blessings of Puratchi Thalaivar M. G. Ramachandran and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma J. Jayalalithaa, and with the good wishes of our elder brother O. Panneerselvam, I extend my thanks.

He further said, “The Breakfast Scheme was introduced with a visionary outlook. For small children’s who come to primary schools, the Chief Minister provides hot meals like a mother”. “Those who once raised slogans claiming that the Chief Minister had merely given Rs 5,000 are nowhere to be seen today. As long as Tamil Nadu exists, the Breakfast Scheme will continue to praise the Chief Minister. In the upcoming election, M.K. Stalin should once again win and return as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. With the blessings of Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R. and Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, and with the wishes of our elder brother O. Panneerselvam, I express my gratitude at this moment”, Ayyappan added.

The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin led, alliance will look to project the ‘Dravidian Model 2.0’ for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest.

In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. Congress won 18, PMK won 05, VCK won 04, and polls. Congress won 18, PMK won 05, VCK won 04, and others won 08 seats. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, which consisted of Congress, won 159 seats collectively. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats.

Meanwhile, yesterday (26th February) the Election Commission of India (ECI) conducted a detailed review of poll preparedness for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi led the comprehensive assessment in Chennai Joshi. As per the ECI statement, during the review visit, the Commission interacted with the representatives of recognised national and state political parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian National Congress (INC), and the National People’s Party (NPP), All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), Naam Tamizhar Katchi (NTK), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and sought their suggestions.

Some of the political parties urged the Commission to keep in mind the upcoming festivals while finalising the dates of elections. Assuring the political parties that their suggestions will be considered, CEC Gyanesh Kumar assured all the political parties that elections are always held as per law in a free, fair and transparent manner.

Following the interaction with the Political Parties, the Commission held a detailed review with the Heads and Nodal Officers of Enforcement Agencies, IGs, DIGs, DEOs, SPs on every aspect of election planning, EVM management, logistics, training of election staff, seizures, law and order, voter awareness and outreach activities. As per the statement the Commission directed all Heads and Nodal Officers of Enforcement Agencies to act with complete impartiality and firmly clamp down on all inducement-related activities.

The Commission further directed all DEOs and SPs, to prioritise voters’ comfort and accessibility at polling stations, and impart robust training to officials and ensure wide awareness about electoral processes, alongwith the officers to ensure absolute impartiality and act without fear or favour and underscored that there will be zero tolerance towards any deviation from the laws, rules and related elections with respect to the conduct of elections.                             

Team Maverick.