In a dramatic political shift ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Friday formally inducted former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam into the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), calling him a “beloved brother” and praising his simplicity and commitment to public life.

The announcement was made after a fresh round of discussions between Panneerselvam and senior DMK leaders, with state minister P. K. Sekar Babu playing a key role in facilitating the talks. Stalin publicly welcomed the veteran leader, stating that his return to what he described as the “parent movement” would strengthen the Dravidian ideology at a crucial political moment.

Positioning the upcoming 2026 Assembly polls as a decisive democratic contest, Stalin asserted that multiple secular and regional forces were rallying behind the DMK-led front to counter the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He expressed confidence that the expanded alliance would present a united and powerful front in the state.

Panneerselvam, widely known as OPS, said his decision to join the DMK was taken after careful thought and was driven by personal conviction. He described his recent political journey as a “painful chapter” and suggested that internal struggles had weakened his former party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). OPS had been expelled from the AIADMK in 2022 following a bitter leadership dispute with Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Thanking Stalin for accepting him into the DMK fold, Panneerselvam said he looked forward to working toward the broader goals of social justice and inclusive governance. He also indicated that his move was aimed at ensuring political stability and clarity ahead of the high-stakes election.

Adding further weight to the development, OPS’s son, P. Ravindhranath Kumar, also joined the DMK. His entry signals a deeper political realignment within Tamil Nadu’s shifting landscape.

Reacting to the development, leaders from the BJP downplayed the impact, stating that the move would not affect the National Democratic Alliance’s prospects in the state.