Why Did Expelled AIADMK Leader Sengottaiyan Resign as MLA?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sengottaiyan resigns from AIADMK ahead of joining TVK.
- Political shift comes just months before 2026 elections.
- He has a long-standing career with numerous ministerial roles.
- Internal party conflicts led to his expulsion from AIADMK.
- TVK aims to make a significant impact in the upcoming political landscape.
Chennai, Nov 26 (NationPress) K. A. Sengottaiyan, the expelled leader of AIADMK and a nine-time MLA, officially stepped down from his Assembly role on Wednesday, paving the way for his upcoming entry into actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Sengottaiyan met with Assembly Speaker M. Appavu at the Secretariat in Chennai to submit his resignation, marking a significant political shift just months before the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
A prominent figure within the AIADMK, he began his political career in 1977, initially winning from the Sathyamangalam constituency.
Over the years, he has been elected eight additional times from the Gobi (Gobbichettipalayam) constituency, solidifying his status as a key player in the party.
Throughout his career, Sengottaiyan has held ministerial roles in various essential departments, including Forest, Transport, Agriculture, Information Technology, and Revenue, under different AIADMK governments.
Following the passing of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, he took up the crucial position of AIADMK Organising Secretary.
However, tensions arose between him and party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
These tensions escalated when Sengottaiyan called for the reinstatement of expelled leaders like O. Panneerselvam, V. K. Sasikala, and TTV Dhinakaran, a request that EPS strongly opposed. This friction ultimately led to Sengottaiyan being ousted from his party roles and expelled from AIADMK along with numerous loyal supporters.
After weeks of silence, Sengottaiyan has chosen to align with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which is gearing up for its electoral debut in the upcoming year.
He is anticipated to formally join the party, accompanied by his supporters, on Thursday at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, in the presence of Vijay.
This resignation contributes to the escalating political dynamics in Tamil Nadu. Earlier, AIADMK MLA Manoj Pandian from Alangulam also vacated his Assembly position to join the DMK.
Sengottaiyan's transition is expected to influence the internal workings of the AIADMK and may enhance TVK's momentum as it seeks to attract seasoned political figures ahead of the state elections.
With a rich political history spanning nearly five decades, Sengottaiyan's move to TVK represents a notable transformation in Tamil Nadu's political landscape as the state approaches a critical pre-election period.