Theni

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK legislator O Panneerselvam on Tuesday dismissed speculation circulating on social media about his alleged plans to leave the DMK and join the ruling TVK, describing the claims as baseless rumours spread by political mischief-makers.

Responding to questions on the reports, Panneerselvam said there was no truth whatsoever in the speculation and urged people not to be misled by such narratives.

"This is nothing but a rumour. Certain political elements are deliberately spreading false information. There is absolutely no substance to these claims, and they do not deserve any attention," he told PTI.

Commenting on the prevailing political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu, Panneerselvam said the recent trend of leaders changing parties had become a defining feature of state politics. He criticised such defections, saying they amounted to a betrayal of the trust reposed by the electorate.

Reaffirming his commitment to the DMK, he described the party as the original force behind the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu.

"The DMK is the parent organisation and the foundation of the Dravidian movement in the state. I belong to that tradition," he said.

Appealing against the spread of unfounded political speculation, Panneerselvam said people had already begun expressing opinions about the functioning of the present TVK government. Without elaborating further, he hinted that significant political developments could unfold in the near future.

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Panneerselvam, who served as Tamil Nadu's chief minister on three occasions while with the AIADMK, was expelled from the party in 2022. He formally joined the DMK on February 27, 2026, in the presence of then Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.