KA Sengottaiyan quits AIADMK, joins Vijay’s TVK in major Tamil Nadu political shift

KA Sengottaiyan

Expelled AIADMK leader and former Tamil Nadu minister KA Sengottaiyan formally joined actor Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday, ending his decades-long association with the AIADMK and marking one of the biggest political crossovers ahead of the 2026 Assembly election.

Supporters of the veteran leader travelled from Gobichettipalayam, his long-held constituency, and gathered in large numbers outside the TVK party office in Chennai. TVK general secretary N Anand welcomed Sengottaiyan and his followers as they arrived to loud cheers.

Sengottaiyan had resigned as MLA on November 26, sparking speculation that he was preparing to join Vijay’s party. His resignation came just weeks after the AIADMK expelled him in October, accusing him of maintaining contact with individuals earlier removed from the party—an action EPS-led leadership claimed violated party discipline and harmed its image.

Following his expulsion, Sengottaiyan publicly vowed to challenge the move in court, calling it unfair and arbitrary. He launched a sharp attack on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), alleging authoritarian functioning and deviation from the party’s founding ethos.

“I was MLA even before he came to the party. A notice should have been given as per the party law. He (Palaniswami) is acting like a dictator, and acting against party rules is worrisome,” Sengottaiyan said on November 1.

“In 1975, our founder MGR brought a law that cadres should elect the General Secretary, and it should not be changed.”

He also questioned the AIADMK’s political strategy in recent years. “In 2024, we left the BJP alliance. What benefit came from that?” he asked, accusing EPS of sidelining cadre voices.

EPS defended the expulsion, insisting it was carried out strictly in line with party rules.

Sengottaiyan, who hails from Kullampalayam near Gobichettipalayam in Erode district, is one of the AIADMK’s most seasoned leaders. A nine-time MLA since 1977, he was a key organiser for late chief minister J Jayalalithaa and played a crucial role in planning her campaign tours. During the AIADMK split of the late 1980s, he aligned with the Jayalalithaa faction and won on the ‘Rooster’ symbol, cementing his place in the party’s top ranks.

His meeting with TVK chief Vijay on Wednesday, just hours after resigning as MLA, signalled the final break from his nearly 50-year political home. For TVK, which has been attracting senior leaders from across Tamil Nadu’s political spectrum, Sengottaiyan’s entry is a significant boost as it works to strengthen its organisational base.