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O. Panneerselvam Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 3 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth14 January 1951

Age71 Years

BirthplacePeriyakulam, Tamil Nadu, India

ProfessionPolitician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseP. Vijayalakshmi

FamilyFather - Ottakkara Thevar; Mother - Palaniammal Naachiar; Brother - O Raja

Net worth8.6 lakh (INR)

O. Panneerselvam Biography

O. Panneerselvam, commonly known as OPS, is an Indian politician from Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu. A veteran leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazh

Early life and background

O. Panneerselvam was born on 14 January 1951 in Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu. He grew up in a family with agricultural roots; his father is named Ottakkara Thevar and his mother Palaniammal Naachiar. He belongs to the Maravar community, a sub‑group of the Thevars. Panneerselvam attended Haji Karutha Ravuthar Kavuthiya Arts College in Uthamapalayam and enrolled in a B.A. program in economics but did not complete the degree.

Before entering full‑time politics he ran a small tea stall in the 1970s with a friend; that venture was later handed over to his younger brother when he turned to public life. He remains identified with Periyakulam as his birthplace and hometown.

Career

Panneerselvam’s formal political career began at the local level when he became chairman of the Periyakulam municipality in 1996, a post he held until 2001. He is a long‑time member of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and is widely known by his initials, OPS.

He first became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 2001, serving as the state’s 13th chief minister. Over the following decades he occupied several senior positions within the state government and the party. He served as Leader of the Opposition in 2006.

In 2014 he was sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu when the incumbent leader faced legal trouble, and he remained in that office until mid‑2015 when the previous chief minister returned. After the death of Jayalalithaa in 2016, Panneerselvam was again sworn in as Chief Minister and held the post into early 2017.

On 6 February 2017 he tendered his resignation as chief minister and in the weeks that followed experienced internal party conflict. In mid‑2017 he joined with Edappadi K. Palanisamy in a party merger arrangement and took on the role of Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In 2021 he was elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. In July 2022 the AIADMK General Council removed him from the position of party treasurer and expelled him as a primary member of the party for what the council described as anti‑party activities.

Public profile

Panneerselvam is known for a restrained public persona and for being identified as a longtime AIADMK loyalist. Physical details recorded in public profiles list his height at approximately 170 cm (5 ft 7 in), weight around 74 kg (163 lbs), dark brown eyes and salt‑and‑pepper hair. He follows Hinduism.

Personal life

He is married to P. Vijayalakshmi and the couple have three children. Family details beyond parents and a brother named O Raja are part of his public record. His nickname in political and public circles is OPS.

Latest updates

The most recent organizational development recorded for Panneerselvam is his expulsion as party treasurer and removal as a primary party member by the AIADMK General Council on 11 July 2022. Prior to that, in June 2021 he was chosen as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Overall, Panneerselvam’s political life has been marked by multiple brief stints as chief minister, long service within AIADMK, and recurring involvement in the party’s internal leadership changes.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about O. Panneerselvam, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

Elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on 14 June 2021.

2021
Expulsion as AIADMK Party Treasurer and Primary Member

Removed as party treasurer and expelled as a primary member by the AIADMK General Council for alleged anti‑party activities.

2022
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Career Highlights

  1. Chairman of Periyakulam Municipality (1996–2001)
  2. 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (2001)
  3. Leader of the Opposition (2006)
  4. 17th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (2014–2015)
  5. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu following Jayalalithaa's demise (2016–2017)
  6. Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu following 2017 party merger
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Net Worth

8.6 lakh (INR)

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was O. Panneerselvam born?

O. Panneerselvam was born on 14 January 1951.

What is O. Panneerselvam known for?

O. Panneerselvam is known for politician.

What is O. Panneerselvam’s marital status?

O. Panneerselvam's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is O. Panneerselvam married to?

O. Panneerselvam is publicly listed as married to P. Vijayalakshmi.

What is O. Panneerselvam’s net worth?

O. Panneerselvam's net worth is commonly listed as 8.6 lakh (INR), based on available public profile information.