Sengottaiyan resigns as AIADMK MLA, set to join Vijays TVK

Chennai: In a significant political development, expelled senior AIADMK leader and nine-time MLA from Gopichettipalayam, KA Sengottaiyan, resigned from the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. This move comes just weeks after he was expelled from the AIADMK by General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for anti-party activities. Sources indicate Sengottaiyan is likely to join actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as early as Thursday, bringing his five decades of political experience to the new party ahead of the 2026 state elections.

Sengottaiyan's departure from the AIADMK was triggered by his public calls for party unity and his meetings with other expelled leaders, including O. Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran. The final straw for the leadership was when the trio traveled together in the same car and held a joint press conference during the Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Jayanti celebrations. In response, Edappadi Palaniswami expelled Sengottaiyan on October 31 and purged approximately 2,000 of his supporters from the party. Following his expulsion, Sengottaiyan formally submitted his resignation as an MLA to the Speaker's office at the Secretariat in Chennai, leaving his constituency seat vacant for a by-election.

Sengottaiyan is reportedly set to join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a move that political commentators believe could significantly alter the opposition landscape. Journalist Thuglak Ramesh, after meeting with Sengottaiyan, stated that the veteran leader could be a "very important tool" for the development of Vijay's party. He also suggested that Sengottaiyan's defection could trigger a cascade, with other AIADMK functionaries dissatisfied with their roles potentially following him to the TVK. This is bolstered by private surveys cited by the journalist which claim the TVK already has more support than the AIADMK in some areas.

Sengottaiyan's exit highlights the ongoing fractures within the primary opposition party in Tamil Nadu. His decision to join a party that positions itself as a rival to both the ruling DMK and the AIADMK is seen as a strategic acquisition for the TVK. Analysts note that Vijay's recent speeches praising iconic leaders Anna and MGR are designed to appeal directly to the traditional AIADMK voter base. Sengottaiyan's 50 years of grassroots experience and campaign expertise could provide the fledgling TVK with the organizational heft it needs to transition from a popular movement to a credible political force, further splintering the anti-incumbency vote ahead of the 2026 polls.