Expelled AIADMK Leader Sengottaiyan Joins Vijay’s TVK

Chennai: Nine-time AIADMK MLA KA Sengottaiyan, recently expelled from the party, joined actor-politician Vijay-led TVK here on Thursday, a day after he resigned from the legislature.

The 77-year-old leader and his supporters, including a former MP, joined the fledgling Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) here and were welcomed into the party by party founder Vijay.

However, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami declined to comment, saying Sengottaiyan was no longer with the AIADMK.

The former state minister and senior politician, hailed as an MGR loyalist, arrived at the TVK headquarters at Panaiyur here and joined the party along with a large number of supporters, including former AIADMK MP V Sathyabama.

Sengottaiyan, who is rarely seen wearing a shawl, was presented with a yellow-red TVK shawl by Vijay, who saluted his 50 years of political experience.

The former minister had joined the AIADMK when its founder, charismatic matinee idol MG Ramachandran (MGR), founded the party in 1972 after quitting the DMK due to differences with its then president M Karunanidhi.

TVK members feel that Sengottaiyan’s presence in the party will help strengthen the party in Kongu district, especially the eight Assembly constituencies in Erode district where he hails from.

The western region of Tamil Nadu covering Coimbatore and Erode is known as ‘kong’.

The nine-time legislator had resigned from the post of Gobichettipalayam MLA on November 26. He became the second AIADMK MLA to resign after Panneerselvam supporter PH Manoj Pandian. Manoj Pandian had joined the ruling DMK.

Sengottaiyan was expelled from the AIADMK by Palaniswami on October 31 after he met and interacted with sacked leaders Panneerselvam, TTV Dhinakaran and his aunt VK Sasikala in Ramanathapuram and asked them to rejoin the party. Earlier this month, 14 Sengottaiyan supporters, including Sathyabama, were expelled from the AIADMK.

Vijay, who personally invited him to the party, said Sengottaiyan’s political experience and dedicated work in the field will be an asset for TVK.

“Annan’s (brother’s) 50 years of political experience and dedicated work in the political field will be a great boost to TVK,” Vijay later said in a video message.

“He took on the huge responsibility of becoming an MLA at a young age of 20. He was a symbol of confidence for the two great leaders of the AIADMK, MGR and J Jayalalithaa,” said Vijay, referring to Sengottaiyan’s first victory in the Sathyamangalam assembly constituency in 1977.

Reacting to the development, state BJP chief Nainar Nagendran claimed that the BJP-AIADMK alliance will not be affected by Sengottaiyan’s decision to join TVK.

“Our alliance will not be affected. No matter how many alliances are formed, ours will form the government” after the 2026 elections, Nagendran told reporters in Tirunelveli.

Speaking to reporters later, Sengottaiyan said he joined TVK after taking a clear decision to lead clean governance in the state. Sengottaiyan said, “People also want clean governance as there is no difference between DMK and AIADMK under the current leadership. Vijay, who founded TVK, won the hearts of people who want regime change.” he said.

People were fed up with the DMK and AIADMK splitting into various factions after Jayalalithaa’s death and wanted a change. “They want someone who can provide good management and Vijay will fit the role,” he added.

On the question of why Jayalalithaa continues to keep her photo in her shirt pocket, Sengottaiyan tried to find out what is wrong with displaying her photo. “If I had changed the photo, you would have found another flaw,” he said.

“I remained loyal to the AIADMK and worked for its development for half a century. And the only reward I got was suspension from the party. Even my supporters were expelled for endorsing my view of a united AIADMK,” he alleged.

He denied that the DMK or national parties had approached him after his resignation on November 26. All he did was ask for the merger of AIADMK groups, but the media said their headlines reflected his demand as setting a deadline and targeted Palaniswami, saying “God is watching… God will punish.”

Meanwhile, Palaniswami declined to comment, saying Sengottaiyan is no longer with the AIADMK. “Sengottaiyan is not in AIADMK, so there is no need for me to answer on his joining TVK,” AIADMK general secretary told reporters in Madurai.