50-year AIADMK veteran KA Sengottaiyan joins Vijay's party
What's the story
Expelled All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and nine-time Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) KA Sengottaiyan has joined Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). His move comes a day after he resigned as the MLA of Gobichettipalayam, ending a 50-year association with the AIADMK. Sengottaiyan was expelled from the AIADMK in October for allegedly keeping in touch with expelled AIADMK members, violating party discipline and bringing disrepute to the organization.
Expulsion aftermath
Sengottaiyan's expulsion and court challenge
After his expulsion from AIADMK, Sengottaiyan had announced plans to challenge the decision in court. He had also accused AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) of acting like a dictator within the party. "I was MLA even before he came to the party," he said on November 1, adding that Palaniswami should have followed party law by issuing a notice before his expulsion.
Political transition
Sengottaiyan's political journey and TVK's welcome
On September 5, he publicly pushed EPS to readmit expelled leaders like O Panneerselvam, TTV Dhinakaran, and V K Sasikala, warning that failure to reunite the movement would result in greater electoral catastrophe. Within hours, he was stripped of organizational posts and later removed, accused of breaking party rules. Sengottaiyan is a powerful leader in Erode district, having been elected from his home constituency around nine times.
Political influence
Sengottaiyan's influence in Erode district
His joining the TVK could tilt the political balance in favor of the party in Erode as Assembly elections are due to be held in 2026. According to the Indian Express, Sengottaiyan has been appointed organization secretary for four western districts of Tamil Nadu, namely Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur, and the Nilgiris, where he retains a personal vote bank and organizational power.