With Sengottaiyan’s entry, TVK rules out any alliance with AIADMK and NDA

Sengottaiyan resigned as Gobichettipalayam MLA on Wednesday and on Thursday joined the TVK.

One door opened, another door shut. With the admission of the former leader of the AIADMK and nine- time MLA, KA Sengottaiyan to the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), the actor-politician Vijay has effectively ruled out the possibility of any alliance with the AIADMK or the NDA. The development paves the way for a clear three-corner contest in the coming Assembly election in Tamil Nadu.

Though there is a smaller party of actor Seeman - Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) - its influence is not of much consequence. Together with the NDA and TVK, it would enable the splitting of the anti-DMK votes.

While for Sengottaiyan (77), who had been organising secretary and senior Minister during MG Ramachandran's (MGR) and J Jayalalithaa’s AIADMK rule in the state, now there is no other option to stay relevant in politics other than joining TVK, for the TVK he is the first big political leader to join the party. Starved of political experience Vijay and his party has gained an experienced organiser in Sengottaiyan, whose organising skills had helped the AIADMK for 52 years. It has also indicated that Vijay is open to accepting leaders from other parties.

Sengottaiyan was always known for his loyalty to the AIADMK and its leaders. He was a trusted lieutenant of both MGR and Jayalalithaa and held top portfolios in the state government. But when it came to leadership of the party or choosing a chief minister, it was somebody else like O Paneerselvam (OPS) or Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS). While VK Sasikala tried to cling on to the party leadership and her nephew TTV Dhinakaran revolted against someone outside his family taking over the party post, Sengottaiyan, given his stature, never went beyond his loyalty to the party and its leaders to claim its leadership.

Even when he did not approve of Palaniswami's way of functioning, Sengottaiyan, who is senior, only stayed away from his events and eventually went running to the BJP leaders. His efforts, unlike OPS’ efforts to regain the leadership of the party, was only to reunite the expelled leaders of the party and in the process he himself got expelled.

Sengottaiyan resigned as Gobichettipalayam MLA on Wednesday and on Thursday joined the TVK. Vijay appointed him as the chief coordinator of TVK's high-level administrative committee. “He will guide the committee and help me carry forward my political work,” Vijay said, welcoming Sengottaiyan into the party. He announced that Sengottaiyan would also serve as the party’s organisation secretary for four districts — Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur and the Nilgiris.

Sengottaiyan was among the poll strategists for Jayalalithaa and his political acumen would help build the party for TVK. Vijay, according to surveys, has amassed a huge fan following and support base, especially among the first time voters, despite the stampede disaster two months ago where at a public rally in Karur 41 people died. It would be a heavy task for Sengottaiyan to convert them into votes.

Vijay had maintained that his party was opposed to BJP. Alliance with AIADMK option was looked at with AIADMK making many overtures. But Vijay apparently had high demands for his new party, which Palaniswami was unwilling to negotiate. The option of AIADMK and TVK going together without the BJP was weighed upon. But egos played a spoiler.

Now there is a situation where the NDA comprising the BJP, AIADMK and smaller parties want to defeat the ruling DMK. The TVK is against both BJP and DMK and targets them during their election campaign. NTK too is against both BJP and DMK. That leaves the DMK targeted by all and therefore the anti-DMK votes get divided amongst the other three. However, the NTK vote base also includes those opposed to both the AIADMK and the BJP, and it might be able to win over some of the DMK supporters. But there might be many claimants to the benefits of the anti-incumbency sentiment in Tamil Nadu, and it could be to the advantage of the DMK even as it slips in popularity.