Deposed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader O Pannerselvam's (OPS) mother Palaniammal Nachiyar (95) passed away in Tamil Nadu’s Theni on Friday, February 24. She was admitted to a private hospital in Theni two days ago due to age-related ailments and was given Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) treatment. However, her body did not respond to the treatment and she was later shifted to her residence in Periyakulam, where she passed away at night. She is survived by three children including OPS and O Raja, and her last rites will reportedly be conducted on February 25.
Leaders from various political parties expressed their condolences to OPS on the demise of his mother. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin tweeted, "I am deeply saddened to know that former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam’s mother Palaniammal has passed away due to ill health. I offer my deepest condolences to Panneerselvam who is suffering from the loss of his mother.”
முன்னாள் முதலமைச்சர் அண்ணன் @OfficeOfOPS அவர்களின் தாயார் பழனியம்மாள் அவர்கள் உடல்நலக்குறைவின் காரணமாக மறைவெய்தினார் என்றறிந்து மிகவும் வேதனையடைகிறேன்.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) February 24, 2023
ஆளாக்கிய அன்னையை இழந்து தவிக்கும் திரு. பன்னீர்செல்வம் அவர்களுக்கு எனது ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலையும் ஆறுதலையும் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss also tweeted his condolences. "I am saddened to know that former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's mother Palaniammal has passed away due to old age. Deepest condolences and sympathy to Panneerselvam and family,” he wrote.
முன்னாள் முதலமைச்சர் ஓ.பன்னீர்செல்வம் அவர்களின் தாயார் பழனியம்மாள் முதுமை காரணமாக மறைவெய்தியதை அறிந்து வேதனையடைந்தேன். பன்னீர்செல்வம் மற்றும் குடும்பத்தினருக்கு ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கலையும் அனுதாபத்தையும் தெரிவித்துக்கொள்கிறேன்.@OfficeOfOPS
— Dr ANBUMANI RAMADOSS (@draramadoss) February 25, 2023
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai contacted OPS and his family after hearing about the demise of Palaniammal and expressed his condolences on Twitter. "I'm praying to the god that his mother's soul rests in peace," he tweeted. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, and Minister of state in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying L Murugan, also shared their condolences.
முன்னாள் முதலமைச்சர் அண்ணன் திரு. @OfficeOfOPS அவர்கள் தாயார் பழனியம்மாள் காலமான செய்தியறிந்து அவரை தொலைப்பேசி மூலமாக தொடர்பு கொண்டு அவருக்கும் அவரது குடும்பத்தாருக்கும் ஆழ்ந்த இரங்கல்களைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொண்டேன்.
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 25, 2023
அவரது தாயாரின் ஆன்மா சாந்தியடைய ஆண்டவனைப் பிரார்த்திக்கிறேன்.
It is to be noted that AIADMK's interim General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and his factions did not express condolences to OPS as the rift between OPS and EPS over the AIADMK General Secretary post is still rife. The Supreme Court had, on Thursday, February 23, upheld the amendments made to the bye-laws of the AIADMK in July last year, which led to the appointment of EPS as the party’s interim General Secretary. This is a major setback to OPS, who has been contesting the amendments to the bye-laws that rendered his position as Coordinator of the party moot.