Panneerselvam shifts stance, condemns BJP over Samagra Shiksha funds controversy

In a shift from his usual position towards the Union government, the ADMK Workers’ Rights Retrieval Committee coordinator and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) condemned the BJP-led Centre for not releasing funds to the State under the Samagra Shiksha scheme for 2024-25.

“Citing this [the non-acceptance of the State government to the Union government’s conditions] as the reason for not providing the funds will not only affect the education of students, but also teachers. This action of the Central government is against the Right to Education Act and federalism,” Mr. Panneerselvam said in a statement, adding that the non-acceptance was a matter between the two governments. The ADMK Workers’ Rights Retrieval Committee leader urged the Centre to release around ₹2,151.59 crore to the State under the scheme. 

From ally to ‘uncertain’ partner

Ever since Mr. Panneerselvam rebelled against the AIADMK’s former interim general secretary V.K. Sasikala in February 2017, he had been known as a staunch ally of the BJP. When he and the present general secretary of the party Edappadi K. Palaniswami came together six months later, he had publicly credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the reunion. In 2019, when Mr. Modi filed his nomination papers in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, Mr. Panneerselvam was among those who were there to greet him. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Edappadi K. Palaniswamy and O. Pannerselvam in February 2021
| Photo Credit:
R. Ragu

Five years later, the former Chief Minister, who held the portfolio of Finance in the State government for about 10 years, contested as an Independent in the Ramaathapuram Lok Sabha seat unsuccessfully as part of the BJP-led alliance. But the AIADMK had faced the election only with the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and SDPI. 

After the Dravidian major revived its alliance with the national party in April this year, Mr. Panneerselvam’s position became uncertain in view of a “hands-off” approach of the BJP towards him, as Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah made it clear that “we will not interfere in the internal affairs of the AIADMK,” when asked about the former Chief Minister’s space in the alliance. 

The former Chief Minister had sought an audience with the Prime Minister during his latest trip to Tamil Nadu but no meeting took place between the two leaders, even though Mr. Palaniswami, along with his colleagues, met Mr. Modi at the Tiruchi airport on Saturday (July 26) night. 

On Mr. Panneerselvam’s further course of action, Panruti S. Ramachandran, former Minister who has been an advisor to the former Chief Minister’s camp, told The Hindu on Tuesday afternoon that “when there is no place for him in the alliance, there is no point in continuing there.”  

Would the BJP not approach Mr. Panneerselvam again and take him back into its fold? “There is no possibility, because Mr. Palaniswami is there in the alliance,” replied Mr. Ramachandran, adding that “there is no way out for him [the Committee coordinator] than finding his own way.”