In a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu, OPS loyalist group has formally dissociated itself with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The declaration was made by senior leader and long-time OPS ally, Panruti S. Ramachandran.
"We are breaking the alliance with the NDA," said Ramachandran, formally ending the group's affiliation with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led grouping.
The move has come ahead of OPS planning to embark on a statewide political tour in the run-up to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Ramachandran also made it clear that the OPS group is now not aligned with any political party and decisions regarding future alliances will be made closer to election time.
This move comes after what is seen as a cold shoulder by the BJP leadership. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Tamil Nadu, OPS had requested a meeting with the PM at Gangaikonda Cholapuram, saying in a letter that it would be his "singular honour" to meet him. The meeting didn't happen, leaving the OPS camp disappointed.
Shortly afterwards, OPS criticized the Union Government in public for delays in disbursement of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan funds, reflecting increasing tension with the BJP. His decision to leave the NDA is therefore regarded as the culmination of these emerging differences.
In a development that added political rumor to the speculation, OPS was spotted meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on a morning stroll earlier today. The brief meeting has fueled speculation of possible future alignments, though no official sign has been made.
After being an influential leader of the AIADMK and the BJP's close confidant, OPS took a new political turn after a high-profile rift with Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), resulting in the AIADMK split and the establishment of his own faction. Although he initially joined hands with the BJP after the split, today's action consolidates a clear break.
This political shifting could have significant consequences, particularly within the powerful Thevar community of south Tamil Nadu, traditionally in favor of the AIADMK. How the community reacts to OPS's departure from the NDA will be watched in the coming months.
With 2026 assembly elections approaching, OPS's action paves the way for a new round of political jockeying and realignment in the state's constantly shifting landscape.
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