Meet the Giant Fighters: It is DMK's Thanga Tamilselvan vs OPS at Bodinayakkanur

After the upheaval that Tamil Nadu politics underwent, Tamilselvan is now with the DMK taking on his bete noire in his home turf

Candidate: Thanga Tamilselvan

Constituency: Bodinayakkanur

Challenger: O Panneerselvam, Dy CM

Thanga Tamilselvan and O Panneerselvam entered the Tamil Nadu Assembly for the first time in 2001. And both caught the attention of the then Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Tamilselvan vacated the Andipatti constituency for Jayalalithaa to get elected to the Assembly, but a Supreme Court verdict forced her to resign from the top post. She chose O Panneerselvam, a first-time MLA, to standby for her.

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When Jayalalithaa eventually won from Andipatti in the 2002 byelection and in the 2006 assembly election, Tamilselvan was her points person in the constituency. He was also rewarded with a Rajya Sabha berth.

Both OPS and Tamilselvan had the confidence of Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK supremo till her last breath, but the duo never shared the best of relations.

After the upheaval that Tamil Nadu politics underwent post Jayalalithaa's death, Tamilselvan is now with the DMK taking on his bete noire in his home turf.

“Whether it is a Chief Minister or deputy Chief Minister, if one does not keep up the trust imposed in them by the electorate, they will not be liked by the people. OPS has done nothing for the people of Bodinayakkanur,” Tamilselvan, who shared an excellent rapport with V K Sasikala, told DH.

In fact, the long-held political rivalry between the two came to the fore when Panneerselvam took over as Chief Minister after Jayalalithaa's death in 2016. Tamilselvan was among the first to demand OPS's scalp as he proposed Sasikala fill the shoes of her friend Jayalalithaa.

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Tamilselvan was disqualified in 2017 for owing allegiance to rebel T T V Dhinakaran and lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Theni. He joined DMK after the loss.

Tamilselvan is popular in the picturesque Theni district, having represented Andipatti, a traditional stronghold of AIADMK, thrice. He is a grassroots politician who always has his ears to the ground and is considered an able organiser.

For a long time, DMK lacked a proper base in Theni but it is fast changing. Tamilselvan was made in charge of the district in October 2020 laying the groundwork to take on Panneerselvam, who is contesting from the seat for the third time. “We have done enough groundwork to defeat the AIADMK in Bodi this time. The constituency will become DMK's seat on May 2,” he said.