Chennai, Nov 1 (NationPress) Expelled AIADMK senior member K. A. Sengottaiyan declared on Saturday that he would pursue legal measures against his dismissal from the party, labeling it as "unjust, unconstitutional and dictatorial".

The former minister emphasized that General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) is merely a "temporary" leader lacking Election Commission recognition, thus incapable of expelling members.

In a statement to journalists in his hometown, Sengottaiyan argued that his ousting contravened the party’s bylaws established by founder M.G. Ramachandran in 1975.

"According to those rules, only a General Secretary elected by the members can take disciplinary action. I was removed without any notice or opportunity to present my defense. This is nothing short of autocracy," he asserted.

The AIADMK veteran indicated he would consult with legal professionals and contest the expulsion in court.

"I have been a part of this movement since MGR’s era. Expelling a senior member like me without due process is intolerable," he remarked.

In a direct attack on Palaniswami, Sengottaiyan held him responsible for the party’s electoral failures since 2019. "Under his leadership, the AIADMK has faced continuous defeats. Rather than reflecting on this, he shifts the blame to others," he stated.

Addressing criticism regarding his recent engagement with expelled AIADMK figure O. Panneerselvam and AMMK chief T.T.V. Dhinakaran at Pasumpon, Sengottaiyan clarified that the meeting was aimed at fostering unity within the party.

"I spoke to them to fortify the AIADMK. For this, I faced expulsion," he claimed.

Dismissing EPS’s accusation that he was part of the DMK's 'B Team', Sengottaiyan countered: "The public knows who the real B Team is. I am not B Team — A1 is him," referencing Palaniswami’s involvement in the Kodanadu estate case.

He further contended that Palaniswami’s influence permeates the Assembly.

"When Panneerselvam was Deputy Speaker, the resolution to dismiss him was passed within ten minutes after the Chief Minister spoke. That illustrates where true power resides," he stated.

In a sharp remark, he suggested: "If there were a Nobel Prize for betrayal, it should be awarded to Palaniswami."

Reflecting on the graciousness of past leaders, Sengottaiyan noted that MGR and Jayalalithaa consistently valued unity over personal pride. "Even if I am expelled, I will persist in advocating for the movement founded by MGR and supported by Amma. The AIADMK belongs to its cadre, not to a single individual," he asserted.

Sengottaiyan, one of the longest-serving AIADMK leaders and a close ally of the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, was expelled after traveling with Panneerselvam from Madurai to Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district to commemorate the 118th birth anniversary and Guru Puja of freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.

At the memorial, the two were accompanied by AMMK General Secretary Dhinakaran, with the trio jointly honoring Thevar’s statue and offering floral tributes.

Subsequently, both OPS and Sengottaiyan met Sasikala, a close associate of Jayalalithaa, who also visited Pasumpon to pay her respects.

The unprecedented meeting of these four influential figures from the AIADMK camp ignited a political uproar across Tamil Nadu.