O Panneerselvam (OPS), the expelled leader of the AIADMK, denounced the BJP-led Union government on Tuesday for denying ₹2,151 crore in funds from Tamil Nadu’s Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan because the state government refused to accept the three-language formula required by the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.
“The education of needy, impoverished, and innocent pupils and teachers is impacted when monies are withheld on the basis of this justification.” In his statement, OPS added, “This is strongly condemned. The federalism principle and the Right to Education (RTE) Act are violated by this central government action. Because of the Central Government’s strategy, 25% of pupils are unable to enroll in private schools under the RTE, which is a pitiful condition.”
As an independent in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, OPS lost, but he is currently a member of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). According to reports, he has been dissatisfied with the alliance’s apparent lack of regard for him. Speaking on condition of anonymity, an expelled AIADMK leader close to OPS claimed that “long back last year, some of us had advised him to remain independent and not to join the BJP.”
OPS’s Tuesday comments sparked rumors that he will join Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), the actor Vijay’s upstart. The leader cited above stated, “That is an option, but as a former chief minister, it is better for OPS to contest on his own along with whoever is willing to join hands with us.”
In 2022, OPS was dismissed by Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS), the general secretary of the AIADMK. Until then, both had been sharing authority to govern the party. Following the AIADMK’s split from the BJP in 2023, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), the party of another ousted AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, also joined the NDA last year.
But this April, the party returned to the NDA. Despite requesting an appointment, EPS allegedly did not see Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day visit to the state from July 26 to 28. Nainar Nagendran, the state head of the BJP, claimed he was not aware that OPS desired to meet with the prime minister. In response to OPS’ announcement regarding the release of central funding, Nagendran stated, “If I had known, I would have definitely arranged a meeting for him.”