Former AIADMK leaders allotted DMK tickets

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has rewarded former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and his supporters, who recently joined the party, by allotting them tickets to contest the upcoming election.

Mr. Panneerselvam will contest from Bodinayakanur Assembly constituency. Similarly, R. Vaithilingam, a former AIADMK Minister and a supporter of Mr. Panneerselvam, will contest from Orathanadu constituency.

He joined the DMK in January 2026 and had previously won the constituency in 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2021 Assembly elections.

Manoj Pandian, another supporter of Mr. Panneerselvam who also joined the DMK, has been fielded in Alangulam constituency. He had defeated DMK candidate Poongothai Aladi Aruna in the 2021 Assembly election.

Mr. Manoj, son of former Speaker P.H. Pandian and a Rajya Sabha Member, had earlier represented 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 previously with the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, founded by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, before joining the DMK.

Thoppu N.D. Venkatachalam, a former AIADMK Minister, has also been given a ticket to contest from Perundurai constituency. He joined the DMK in 2021.

The DMK has often been generous in accommodating leaders from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) who join the party. Several senior DMK leaders, including E.V. Velu, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, K. Muthusamy, Anita Radhakrishnan, and P.K. Sekarbabu, as well as former Minister V. Senthilbalaji, have their roots in the AIADMK.