OPS group is weighing its options for the 2026 parliamentary elections

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

At a meeting of Mr Panneerselvam’s supporters in Chennai on Tuesday, the mood was overwhelmingly against AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Consequently, revival of ties with the BJP is out of the question as National Party leader for Tamil Nadu and Union Minister Piyush Goyal had reiterated that as far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, the AIADMK-BJP combine would meet the electorate led by Mr Palaniswami.

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 second, announced his exit from the NDA.

Under such circumstances, two options remain for the Pannerselvam group, which calls itself the AIADMWRRK: either join the ruling DMK front or join hands with the fledgling TVK, led by actor Vijay. “At yesterday’s meeting, our leader gave us two options: merge the group with the DMK or the TVK, and contest the elections on our own,” said A. Subburathinam, secretary of the state election wing of the new body.

However, the participants had expressed in writing their preference regarding the potential ally: the DMK or the TVK. Mr Panneerselvam then said that 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 the opponent.” Moreover, he is aware of the fact that the AIADMWRRK cannot match itself with the DMK, even in the near future, when it comes to the vast organizational network, a factor that is crucial at the time of the polls.

He recalls how S. Thirunavukkarasar, after his expulsion from the AIADMK, founded the Anna Puratchi Thalaivar Tamizhaga Munnetra Kazhagam (APTTMK) along with his colleagues including KKSSR Ramachandran, now Finance Minister in the DMK; joined the Dravidian major in the 1991 Assembly poll and won two of the nine seats contested by the APTTMK.

However, RT Ramachandran, the AIADMK’s Perambalur district secretary and former MLA from Kunnam, is singing a different tune. He wants the group to form an alliance with the TVK, Pattali Makkal Katchi led by Anbumani Ramadoss and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam. “If we join hands with the TVK, we can retain our AIADMK identity. Otherwise we cannot do it,” he said. Mr Subburathinam disputes this and questions whether the Left parties have lost their identity due to their alliance with the DMK.

Meanwhile, Aiadmk organizational secretary D. Jayakukumar said it was up to Mr Palaniswami to take a call on the issue of inducting Mr Panneselvam and the Now Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, led by TTV Dhinakaraan, into the Alliance.

He spoke to journalists after participating in a solemn ceremony held by his party to mark the 38th presidential election.^e death anniversary of party founder MG Ramachandran. While implementing the promise, Mr Palaniswami called on his party members to strive hard for his party’s success in the Assembly elections.