Do not politicise my meeting with Stalin, says O. Panneerselvam

Former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Monday rejected speculations about his likely association with the ruling DMK and further maintained his objective was to form Amma’s government in the 2026 Assembly poll.

He clarified that his recent comments on the Centre not releasing funds for Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha programme were not new, and he had flagged this as early as in August 2024.

In a statement, Mr. Panneerselvam termed as “indecent” the attempts by some to politicise his visit to Mr. Stalin’s residence. “The meeting was not related to politics,” he contended.“It is in the culture of the Tamils to visit and enquire about the well-being of someone, who has been under treatment in a hospital and has returned home, and to extend condolences if there is a loss in the family,” he said in a statement.

Recalling his visit to the Chief Minister’s residence, Mr. Panneerselvam explained that he visited only to enquire about the health of Mr. Stalin and express condolences over the passing of the latter’s brother M.K. Muthu.

He also rejected contentions and speculations which termed him as “DMK’s Team B”, and he was about to forge an alliance with the DMK and maintained there was “not even an iota of truth in it”. He recalled in June that he had condemned the Hindu Munnani over remarks made against late leaders Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and C.N. Annadurai. “I have also condemned former BJP leaders who criticised Amma [former CM Jayalalithaa]. I have also recorded my support for the two-language policy,” he asserted.

Mr. Panneerselvam added: “I also directed to vote against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha. Irrespective of wherever I am, I will walk on the path laid down by Amma for the rights and welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu.”