The Big Question & Stalin’s New Political Strategy, Can O Panneerselvam Bring Mukulathor Votes to DMK?

A key question is now dominating political discussions in Tamil Nadu: can O. Panneerselvam (OPS) deliver on the major political assignment reportedly given to him by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin?

Political observers believe the DMK leadership has agreed to bring OPS closer primarily to consolidate the Mukulathor community vote base in the southern districts, which has traditionally leaned toward the AIADMK. However, a lingering question remains — can OPS successfully accomplish that task?

Since the days when M.G. Ramachandran founded the AIADMK, the Mukulathor community has been a strong pillar of support for the party. Jayalalithaa managed to retain that backing during her tenure as party leader and Chief Minister. That was also the reason figures such as V.K. Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran, both belonging to the same community, were able to wield significant influence within the party.

At one point, when differences emerged between Jayalalithaa and Sasikala–Dhinakaran, Jayalalithaa turned to OPS — who also belonged to the Mukulathor community — and entrusted him with an important political role.

Even though OPS shared the same community background, resentment from Sasikala and Dhinakaran was inevitable, as the Chief Minister’s position that many believed should have gone to them was instead handed to OPS. Later, during political shifts within the AIADMK, Dhinakaran found himself compelled to support OPS in opposing Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

However, political dynamics have since changed. Because of alliance obligations, Dhinakaran now finds himself in a position where he must stand with Palaniswami and oppose OPS.

In this complex situation, Stalin has reportedly placed a crucial responsibility on OPS — to consolidate Mukulathor votes in the southern districts without letting them scatter. Whether OPS can effectively carry out this mission remains the central question.

Many within the Mukulathor community have expressed dissatisfaction with Palaniswami, accusing him of diminishing their political importance within the AIADMK. This dissatisfaction earlier pushed sections of the community toward supporting Dhinakaran. But now Dhinakaran himself is in a position where he must campaign in favour of Palaniswami, raising doubts about how effectively his message will resonate with Mukulathor voters.

The DMK appears to be attempting to capitalise on this confusion. That, analysts say, is why OPS has been brought into the political field. Notably, even before the DMK has officially launched its campaign, OPS has already begun touring the southern districts.

His campaign started in Tenkasi district. The real political reaction, observers believe, will become clearer as he moves through the Mukulathor strongholds of Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Theni and Dindigul.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, OPS contested the Ramanathapuram constituency with BJP support. In that election he secured around 3.42 lakh votes. The constituency was ultimately won by IUML candidate K. Navas Kani, who was part of the DMK alliance and received about 5.09 lakh votes. The AIADMK candidate, Jayaperumal, secured only about 99,000 votes.

For OPS, this was still considered a significant political showing. The large gap between OPS’s vote count and that of the AIADMK candidate is interpreted by some DMK strategists as evidence of an anti-Palaniswami sentiment among voters.

But an important question remains: does the political mood of 2024 still exist today?

Even if it does, can OPS surpass the influence of Dhinakaran among Mukulathor voters? Could Sasikala’s potential re-entry complicate matters for both leaders?

Only if OPS successfully overcomes these challenges will it become possible for the Mukulathor vote base to shift toward the DMK. With that objective, OPS has begun his campaign in Tenkasi, taking up what many describe as the assignment given to him by Stalin.

One thing, however, appears certain. Political observers say the trajectory of OPS’s political future will largely depend on how successfully the DMK performs in the southern districts in the coming election.