‘Quick’ decision: OPS trades Amma’s iconic portrait for Stalin’s smile

New Delhi:O panneselvam On Friday, shortly before formally joining the alliance, he made a striking political statement by replacing the photo of his late mentor J Jayalalithaa in his car with that of Chief Minister MK Stalin. DMK in chennai.The carefully orchestrated move on his arrival at DMK headquarters Anna Arivalayam highlighted a dramatic shift in loyalty from the three-time former chief minister, who once symbolized unwavering loyalty to the AIADMK supremo. Jayalalithaa’s image has long featured prominently on the dashboard of his car. Its removal marked a decisive break with his political past.previous tamil nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Friday joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK) in Chennai to officially switch sides ahead of the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections. Panneerselvam, who took office in the presence of chief minister and DMK president Stalin at the party headquarters, said he will work for the party as a cadre, marking a major reshuffle in the state’s political landscape.“I have joined the DMK. I will work as a cadre and support the DMK,” Panneerselvam told reporters soon after joining the party. His son P Ravindhranath Kumar also joined the party.Stalin welcomed him into the fold, calling Panneerselvam his “dear brother” and praising his humility and virtue.“Former chief minister and dear brother Thiru.O.Panneerselvam has joined the parent organization Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. I welcome him with open arms. He, named after the great leader of the Dravidian movement, has joined our great movement to defend the ideology of the Dravidian movement,” he posted on X.In the context of the next parliamentary elections, Stalin added:“The 2026 Assembly elections are a democratic battle between Tamil Nadu and the fascist BJP. It is with this realization that various democratic forces have joined the DMK alliance. We join our brother Thiru.O.Panneerselvam is a caring man, a moral man and a humble man! May he come for welfare! May Tamil Nadu win!”Explaining his decision, Panneerselvam said he chose to join the DMK to distance himself from his troubled past in the AIADMK.“The decision I have taken is my own and brings an end to my painful experience. I am grateful to the CM and DMK President Stalin for accepting me into the DMK. I join the DMK with full joy. EPS is behaving like a dictator and has created a situation where the AIADMK cannot win,” Panneerselvam told media persons.Panneerselvam was expelled from the AIADMK in 2022 following a protracted leadership battle with Edappadi K Palaniswami, a break that reshaped the party’s internal power structure and ultimately paved the way for his latest political move.