After OPS’s shock exit from NDA, desperate BJP woos him back into saffron fold

Stunned by the shock exit of expelled AIADMK leader and former Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) from the NDA, a desperate BJP, attempting to cobble up a credible alliance, along with the AIADMK led by Edappadi K Palaniswamy (EPS), is desperately trying to woo the breakaway leader to return to the saffron fold.

Hectic efforts are being made in the BJP to mollify OPS and bring him back to the NDA to strengthen the alliance to take on the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu in the coming assembly election.

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BJP functionaries have requested OPS, who was away in his native Theni, over the phone to meet BJP National General Secretary BL Santhosh, who is visiting Chennai on Sunday. The Tamil Nadu BJP is also having a brainstorming session at a meeting of state-level functionaries at the party headquarters ‘Kamalalayam’ in Chennai on Sunday.

This followed other minor NDA allies like TTV Dhinakaran of AMMK and GK Vasan of Tamil Maanila Congress urging the BJP to pacify OPS and make efforts to accommodate him. For, OPS had started firing salvos at the Union Government on the demands made by the DMK government.

OPS, who is heading the AIADMK Workers Rights Retrieval Committee, has told the interlocutors that he would consult his supporters and get back. He is expected to arrive in Chennai later in the day. Though the AIADMK of EPS snapped ties with the BJP and contested the 2024 LS poll, OPS stood with the saffron party and fought the election from Ramanathapuram constituency and came second. But, after the AIADMK’s re-entry into the NDA for the 2026 Assembly poll, OPS found himself marginalised with Union Home Minister and BJP stalwart Amit Shah making it clear that the BJP would not interfere in the internal affairs of the AIADMK. It was seen as a free hand given to EPS.

A steadfast loyalist of Modi, he was miffed over the denial of an audience with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his July 26 visit to Tamil Nadu for the 1000th birth anniversary of the imperial Chola emperor Rajendra Chola at Gangaikonda Cholapuram; he had walked out of the NDA. Interestingly, his bête-noire EPS was given the opportunity to receive the Prime Minister at the airport.

After deserting the NDA, he had met Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin twice, but scotched rumours of his joining the DMK. A quintessential loyalist of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who had made anti-DMK-ism a credo of the AIADMK. He has been a stop-gap Chief Minister thrice. Now, it remains to be seen whether OPS will have a change of heart and return to the NDA fold.