OPS group weighing its options for 2026 Assembly poll

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The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Workers’ Rights Retrieval Kazhagam (AIADMKWRRK), led by the AIADMK’s former coordinator O. Panneerselvam (OPS), is weighing two options for finalising its stand on the 2026 Assembly poll.

At a meeting of supporters of Mr. Panneerselvam in Chennai on Tuesday, the mood was predominantly against the AIADMK’s general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Consequently, the revival of ties with the BJP has been ruled out, as the national party’s in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Union Minister Piyush Goyal had reiterated that, as far as Tamil Nadu was concerned, the AIADMK-BJP combine would face the electorate under Mr. Palaniswami’s leadership.

About four months ago, Mr. Panneerselvam, who was fielded by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) during the 2024 Lok Sabha poll in Ramanathapuram where he finished as runner-up, announced his exit from the NDA.

Under such circumstances, there are two options left for the Pannerselvam group, which calls itself the AIADMWRRK: either to become a constituent of the ruling DMK-led front or join hands with the fledgling TVK, led by actor Vijay. “At the meeting yesterday, our leader gave us two options — merging the group with the DMK or the TVK, and going it alone in the poll,” says A. Subburathinam, the new body’s State election wing secretary.

However, the participants had given in writing their preference with regard to the prospective ally — the DMK or the TVK. Mr. Panneerselvam then said he would announce the decision after mid-January.

Mr. Subburathinam is among those who want the OPS group to merge with the DMK, arguing that “electoral success is more important than defeating one’s adversary.” Besides, he is conscious of the fact that the AIADMWRRK cannot match itself with the DMK, even in the near future, in terms of the extensive organisational network, a factor that is crucial at the time of polls.

He recalls how S. Thirunavukkarasar, after his expulsion from the AIADMK, set up the Anna Puratchi Thalaivar Tamizhaga Munnetra Kazhagam (APTTMK), with his colleagues, including K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, now Revenue Minister with the DMK; tied up with the Dravidian major in the 1991 Assembly poll, and won two out of the nine seats the APTTMK contested.

However, R.T. Ramachandran, who was the AIADMK’s Perambalur district secretary and Kunnam’s former MLA, sings a different tune. He wants the group to forge an alliance with the TVK, Anbumani Ramadoss-led Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam. “If we join hands with the TVK, we can retain our AIADMK identity. Otherwise, we won’t be able to do it,” he contends. Mr. Subburathinam counters this, asking whether the Left parties lost their identity because of their alliance with the DMK.

Meanwhile, AIADMK’s organisation secretary D. Jayakumar said it was for Mr. Palaniswami to take a call on the issue of admitting Mr. Panneerselvam and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, led by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, into the alliance.

He spoke to journalists after participating in a pledge-administration ceremony held by his party on the occasion of the 38^th death anniversary of the party’s founder M.G. Ramachandran. Mr. Palaniswami, while administering the pledge, called upon his party members to strive hard for the success of his party in the Assembly poll.