OPS’s DMK entry: BJP’s Jayaprakash claims ‘Senthil Balaji will become party president soon’

Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president Jayaprakash on Saturday warned of potential internal repercussions within the DMK following the induction of expelled AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam into the ruling party.

Speaking to ANI, he said, "The original DMK, which is the old DMK, should be very careful. DMK has become almost like a mini retired AIADMK spa or a place where all of the old retired AIADMK people go and join."

Panneerselvam, who was expelled from the AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswami after a bitter leadership battle in 2022, formally joined the DMK in the presence of party president and Chief Minister M K Stalin.

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His son, P Ravindhranath Kumar, also joined the party ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, a move that has stirred fresh political debate in the state.

Reacting to the development, Jayaprakash alleged that the entry of former AIADMK leaders could alter the DMK’s internal power dynamics. "It is a big danger for the original DMK people who strived and fought against MGR and Jayalalithaa all these years," he said.

He further claimed, "I am predicting that the original DMK will be taken over by people like Senthil Balaji, and he will become the president of DMK very soon."

Meanwhile, dissent has emerged among sections of Panneerselvam’s support base. A loyalist, Esadurai, described the decision as “deeply painful”.

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Recalling the legacy of M G Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, he said, "Puratchi Thalaivar founded the party in 1972, fighting against the DMK. Amma carried forward the same principles. OPS, who once carried Amma's photograph in his shirt pocket, has now joined the DMK. It is deeply painful."

Durai added that cadres who stood by Panneerselvam during the “Dharma Yuddham” felt betrayed.

"Leaving us in the lurch and joining the DMK for family interests and personal gain is an unforgivable act. This is a situation no true cadre can accept," he said, adding that supporters would continue to follow the path laid down by MGR and Jayalalithaa.