O Panneerselvam’s Faction Breaks Away from NDA, Slams Centre Over Education Fund Row

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam (OPS) has officially withdrawn his faction - the AIADMK Cadres Rights Retrieval Committee - from the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The announcement came on Thursday, just hours after OPS was seen meeting Chief Minister MK Stalin during a morning walk in Chennai.

Alliance Break Confirmed

OPS loyalist and senior leader Panruti Ramachandran made the formal announcement at a press briefing in Chennai. He confirmed that OPS would soon launch a statewide campaign ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

"We are ending our alliance with the NDA. As of now, there is no partnership with any political party. Future alliances will be decided depending on circumstances," Ramachandran said, adding that the reasons behind the exit are already well understood and do not require elaboration.

The move deepens the long-standing rift between OPS and Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), who currently leads the AIADMK.

Speculations on New Political Alignments

Although no new alliance has been officially announced, political circles are abuzz with speculation that OPS may align with actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). OPS, however, has not confirmed or denied this possibility.

Stays Silent on Stalin Encounter

OPS refused to comment on his early morning meeting with Chief Minister Stalin at the Theosophical Society in Chennai. When asked by reporters, he simply said:

"I usually go for morning walks there. The Chief Minister also came, and we met. That's all."

He also declined to comment on questions related to future political alliances.

Criticism of Central Government Over Withheld Funds

Panneerselvam's decision to break from the NDA follows his recent criticism of the central government for withholding funds under the Samagra Shiksha programme. He cited the Centre's decision to hold back Rs 2,151 crore in education funding for Tamil Nadu over the state's non-compliance with the three-language policy.

In a statement, OPS called the move "strongly condemnable," saying:

"This action punishes poor students and teachers and violates the spirit of federalism and the Right to Education Act."

He added that disagreements between the state and Centre should not come at the cost of students' welfare.