Sengottaiyan: AIADMK expulsion opened door to TVK ministerial post
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan turned his AIADMK expulsion into a campaign punchline at Dharapuram — telling voters that EPS's decision to oust him was the best thing that happened to him, since it handed him a cabinet seat in Vijay's TVK government. The remarks encapsulate how defectors are being weaponised against the AIADMK as the by-election battle heats up.
Key Takeaways
Sengottaiyan addressed a TVK campaign rally in Dharapuram on 29 September 2026 .
He said his expulsion by AIADMK leader Edappadi K.
Palaniswami (EPS) led directly to his appointment as minister under Chief Minister C.
Sengottaiyan accused EPS of betraying party loyalists, blaming that conduct for the AIADMK's decline.
He promised 25 lakh Tamil Nadu residents would receive land ownership documents ( pattas ) by next year.
He called for a victory margin of one lakh votes for TVK in the upcoming Dharapuram by-election .
Tamil Nadu Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan on 29 September 2026 used a by-election campaign rally in Dharapuram to deliver a pointed attack on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, declaring that being expelled from the party was the best thing that happened to his political career. Speaking before party workers and voters, Sengottaiyan said his ouster ultimately led him to join Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) — and to a seat at the Cabinet table.
Sengottaiyan's Account of His Political Journey
'Fortunately, EPS expelled me from the party. Today I am a minister. I escaped,' Sengottaiyan told supporters, framing his departure from the AIADMK as a turning point rather than a setback. He added: 'EPS did a good job. He removed me from the party, and leader Vijay took me in and made me a minister. This is history.'
Sengottaiyan credited Chief Minister Vijay with personally bringing him into the TVK fold and subsequently appointing him to the ministry. Without that intervention, he suggested, his political position would have been considerably weaker.
Sharp Criticism of EPS and AIADMK Leadership
The minister accused Palaniswami, widely referred to as EPS, of betraying party loyalists and argued that the AIADMK's current decline was a direct consequence of that conduct. He portrayed the TVK, by contrast, as a party that stands by those who place their trust in it — using his own trajectory as evidence.
This is the latest in a series of public attacks by TVK-aligned figures on the AIADMK ahead of the Dharapuram by-election, signalling that the ruling party is seeking to consolidate votes by highlighting internal discord within the principal opposition.
Campaign Promises: Pattas and Housing
Sengottaiyan also addressed local concerns during the rally. He announced that 25 lakh people across Tamil Nadu would receive land ownership documents — known as pattas — by next year. He also spoke of making it possible for residents to access a plot and a house for ₹5 lakh, though he did not provide specific implementation details for the housing proposal.
Notably, the patta announcement connects to a broader TVK narrative of administrative delivery, intended to contrast with what the party characterises as the AIADMK's governance record.
The Dharapuram By-Election Push
Calling on voters to deliver a commanding result, Sengottaiyan urged TVK supporters to work towards a victory margin of one lakh votes in the Dharapuram by-election. He said such a mandate would 'create history' in the constituency.
He also reassured party workers that TVK would stand firm against any attempt to intimidate or suppress its supporters, a signal that the campaign anticipates competitive pressure on the ground.
With polling approaching, the Dharapuram contest is shaping up as an early test of Chief Minister Vijay's TVK and its ability to consolidate support beyond its core base.
Point of View
He signals to fence-sitters in AIADMK that defection carries no stigma under TVK. The broader pattern is clear: the ruling party is systematically deploying its AIADMK-origin ministers to erode Palaniswami's credibility among the party's own base ahead of what could be a bellwether by-election. What is missing from the narrative is any scrutiny of the patta and ₹5 lakh housing promises — both made without delivery timelines or funding details. As Tamil Nadu's by-election season intensifies, the gap between campaign rhetoric and governance accountability is a story the mainstream coverage is not pressing hard enough.
NationPress
29 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did K.A. Sengottaiyan leave the AIADMK?
Sengottaiyan was expelled from the AIADMK by party leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami. He subsequently joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who appointed him as a minister.
What did Sengottaiyan say about his AIADMK expulsion?
He said 'Fortunately, EPS expelled me from the party. Today I am a minister. I escaped,' framing the expulsion as a turning point that led to a better political outcome. He credited CM Vijay for taking him in and giving him a cabinet role.
What promises did Sengottaiyan make at the Dharapuram rally?
He promised that 25 lakh people across Tamil Nadu would receive land ownership documents (pattas) by next year. He also spoke of enabling people to access a plot and a house for ₹5 lakh, though implementation details were not provided.
What is the Dharapuram by-election and why does it matter?
The Dharapuram by-election is an upcoming constituency-level poll in Tamil Nadu that is being closely watched as an early test of the TVK's electoral strength under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. Sengottaiyan urged TVK supporters to secure a winning margin of one lakh votes.
How has Sengottaiyan characterised the AIADMK under EPS?
Sengottaiyan accused Edappadi K. Palaniswami of betraying party loyalists and argued that the AIADMK's decline is a direct result of that conduct. He portrayed TVK as a party that stands by those who trust it, contrasting it with the AIADMK's current leadership.
