The political camp of expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader O. Panneerselvam (OPS) faced a significant setback on Tuesday as two more former legislators deserted his faction to join the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Key Leaders Jump Ship to Ruling DMK
In a move that underscores the growing disillusionment within his ranks, former MLAs A. Subburathinam and K. Balagangadharan formally joined the DMK in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin. This defection marks a continuing trend of senior leaders abandoning the OPS-led AIADMK Cadres' Rights Retrieval Kazhagam.
Subburathinam, who was elected from the Palani assembly constituency in the 1991 elections, is a particularly notable loss. He had been with OPS since the launch of the 'Dharmayutham' initiative in February 2017. His departure marks him as the fourth prominent functionary from the faction to cross over in recent months.
A Pattern of Disillusionment and Defection
The exodus from OPS's camp has been steady. Spokesperson Maruthu Alaguraj joined the DMK in September last year, followed by former MLA Paul Manoj Pandian in November. Just last week, another former AIADMK MLA, J. C. D. Prabhakar, shifted his allegiance to actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
These exits have drastically weakened the OPS faction, leaving former minister R. Vaithilingam as the only prominent face remaining in the camp. Leaders who have left consistently point to OPS's "indecisiveness" and lack of clear political direction as the primary reason for their exit.
"Indecision at the Top" Forced Our Hand, Say Defectors
Explaining his decision to quit, Subburathinam was blunt in his criticism. He stated that the "indecision at the top" had deeply disillusioned long-time supporters. "He failed to take timely decisions and kept postponing crucial political moves. That uncertainty forced many of us to reassess our future," Subburathinam said. He added that he chose the DMK because he found its ideology to be close to that of the AIADMK.
A former MP and close aide of OPS, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed further internal strife. He indicated that OPS's strategy hinged heavily on support from the BJP's national leadership for a potential return to the AIADMK fold. "OPS indicated he was willing not to contest the assembly polls, but wanted reinstatement as AIADMK coordinator and an MP seat for his son. His excessive dependence on BJP and reluctance to take political risks disappointed many loyalists, prompting them to chart their own course," the aide explained.
Despite the crumbling support, OPS appeared publicly unfazed. When questioned by reporters about his next political move, he gave a cryptic response, saying a new path would emerge once the Tamil month of 'Thai' begins. However, this vague message has reportedly failed to enthuse his remaining supporters, who are seeking concrete action and a viable strategy to counter the accelerating erosion of their group's influence.
