CHENNAI: Former Chief Minister and expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam finds himself in a quandary, caught between competing political alliances and conflicting advice from his own supporters, as he struggles to chart a course for his future ahead of the Assembly elections.
In a second meeting convened in Chennai today, Panneerselvam once again asked his supporters to submit written opinions on whether he should align with the DMK or the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. This repeated exercise underscores his deepening political confusion.
This state of limbo has followed OPS ever since his expulsion from the AIADMK, even after he formed the AIADMK Cadres’ Rights Retrieval Committee. Although he was part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the last Parliamentary elections, he later quit, citing a lack of respect within the coalition.
With elections approaching, his attempts to rejoin the AIADMK have been rebuffed by Edappadi Palaniswami. Meanwhile, the BJP has been pressing him to return to the NDA fold and contest from a limited number of constituencies—an offer he has so far declined.
During Tuesday's meeting, supporters remained divided: many favoured an alliance with the TVK. Some suggested a tie-up with the DMK, while others warned against accepting only a handful of seats from the NDA.
Having also held a similar consultation last November, Panneerselvam appears no closer to a resolution. The former CM, isolated from his former party and hesitant to commit to other suitors, remains trapped in hesitation, with his next political move still shrouded in uncertainty.