The DMK has often been generous in accommodating leaders from the AIADMK who have joined the party, with the likes of PK Sekarbabu and V Senthilbalaji having their roots in the latter. Photo: File | Photo credit: PTI
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has rewarded former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and his supporters who joined the party recently by allotting them tickets for the upcoming elections.
Mr. Panneerselvam will contest from Bodinayakanur Assembly constituency. Similarly, R. Vaithilingam, a former AIADMK minister and supporter of Mr. Panneerselvam, will contest from the Orathanadu constituency.
He joined the DMK in January 2026 and had previously won the constituency in the 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2021 assembly elections.
Manoj Pandian, another supporter of Mr. Panneerselvam who also joined the DMK, has been fielded in the Alangulam constituency. In the 2021 assembly elections, he defeated DMK candidate Poongothai Aladi Arun.
Mr Manoj, son of former Speaker PH Pandian and a member of the Rajya Sabha, earlier represented the Cheranmahadevi Assembly constituency.
Former Higher Education Minister P. Palaniappan, another AIADMK leader, has also been given a DMK ticket to contest from the Pappireddipatti constituency.
He was earlier in the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, founded by TTV Dhinakaran, before joining the DMK.
Thoppu ND Venkatachalam, a former AIADMK minister, was also given a ticket to contest from Perundurai constituency. He joined the DMK in 2021.
The DMK has often been generous in accommodating All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leaders who have joined the party. Several senior DMK leaders, including EV Velu, KKSSR Ramachandran, K. Muthusamy, Anita Radhakrishnan and PK Sekarbabu, as well as former minister V. Senthilbalaji, have their roots in the AIADMK.
Published – March 29, 2026 0:03 AM IST
