'Limited influence': BJP downplays OPS move, accuses Stalin of political opportunism

New Delhi: First, DMDK joined the DMK-led alliance and now three times Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam joined the DMK - the two developments have clearly changed the political landscape of the poll-bound state.

As an important ally of the NDA in Tamil Nadu, the BJP was trying to stitch a strong coalition of all the anti-DMK parties to give a spirited fight in the assembly polls. The unification of the various wings of AIADMK was definitely on the agenda of the BJP in the wake of upcoming elections. However, post the party's performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha, it is more cautious in maintaining a warm relation with EPS and his AIADMK. After his expulsion from the AIADMK in 2022, OPS always maintained a communication channel with the BJP and at times, it was felt that he could be part of the BJP's expansion plan in the southern state. He was part of the NDA during the 2024 LS polls and contested as an NDA-supported candidate but lost.

In July last year, he exited the NDA after EPS-led AIADMK got closer to BJP. In December last year, OPS visited Delhi and met Union home minister Amit Shah. Sources in the OPS camp told ET that the two leaders discussed the political alignment ahead of assembly polls.


But BJP sources told ET that OPS was exploring multiple options and was doing things different from what he committed during his meetings with the central BJP leadership. On its part, BJP leadership feels that OPS has limited influence in his district Theni and his induction in the DMK would have limited impact on poll results. Also with EPS firm on not inducting OPS in AIADMK, there were very few options left for OPS.

After OPS joined DMK, the Tamil Nadu unit of BJP attacked TN chief minister MK Stalin accusing him of political opportunism.

In a social media post, the BJP TN unit juxtaposed a 2018 post on X by Stalin, in which he had accused OPS of "betraying Tamil Nadu" and acting as a "puppet of the BJP-led Centre", with his recent message welcoming OPS and expressing confidence that he would work for the DMK's victory in the 2026 assembly elections.