The Gobichettipalayam MLA said that if quick steps were not taken to unite and strengthen the party, all those who shared his thoughts would come together and make necessary arrangements themselves.
Published Sep 05, 2025 | 12:03 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 05, 2025 | 12:03 PM
Sengottiaiyan has raised the banner of revolt, demanding EPS to bring back those who had left the party.
Synopsis: The AIADMK in Tamil Nadu is heading for trouble ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, with senior leader and Gobichettipalayam MLA KA Sengottaiyan issuing an ultimatum to the party leadership to sort out the issues dogging unity in the organisation.
Senior AIADMK leader and former minister KA Sengottaiyan issued an ultimatum to the party leadership on Friday, 5 September, to unite the organisation, which now stands divided.
Addressing the media at Gobichettipalayam in Erode, he said that the AIADMK could win only if it took back those who had left the party. He said those who had left were not asking for positions or responsibilities in the party, but wanted to be taken back into the fold.
He said they had even written letters to the AIADMK leadership, urging them to take them back, adding that victory would be certain if they were reincluded into the party.
Issuing a pointed warning, the Gobichettipalayam MLA said that if quick steps were not taken towards this effect, all those who shared his thoughts would come together and make the necessary arrangements themselves. He, however, did not specify the “necessary arrangements”.
Sengottaiyan declared that he would join party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswamy on his victory journey only if a decision was made on this matter.
On Wednesday, 3 September, Sengottaiyan said that he would air the sentiments of the party cadre on Friday. He then denied media speculations that he had met VK Sasikala and planned to switch parties.
Sengottaiyan has reportedly been miffed over the party sidelining him and keeping him away while making major decisions.
Recalling his long association with the party, Sengottaiyan said that he was appointed treasurer at the 1975 Coimbatore General Council meeting led by Puratchi Thalaivar M.G.R.
He added that it was only on M.G.R.’s instructions that he first contested and won an election. He praised former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, observing that her leadership was one that both spiritualists and Dravidian followers equally accepted.
On the post-Jayalalithaa phase, Sengottaiyan said that after her demise in 2016, Sasikala was appointed the party general secretary. He revealed that he was given two choices for leadership, but he set them aside to prevent a split in the party.
Reflecting on the recent political setbacks, he stated that the AIADMK faced several challenges during the 2019, 2021, and 2024 elections as well as in the local body polls. He felt that the party would have gained at least 30 constituencies if it had allied with the BJP in 2024.
Sengottaiyan said that he, along with Natham Viswanathan, SP Velumani, Thangamani, Anbalagan, and CV Shanmugam, met the AIADMK general secretary to convey their opinion on regaining those who had left the party, but Palaniswamy did not accept their suggestions.
In recent months, Sengottaiyan, has openly displayed differences with the party leadership. The strain became evident during the function celebrating the Athikadavu–Avinashi water project in the Kongu region.
Sengottaiyan boycotted the event, saying the invitation failed to include images of party icons MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. However, AIADMK insiders claimed he was upset that he was not given due importance.
The cracks widened further when Sengottaiyan met BJP leaders in Delhi just before the AIADMK–BJP alliance was formally announced. Reports even suggested that the BJP preferred Sengottaiyan as AIADMK’s general secretary to finalise the alliance. But once Edappadi K Palaniswami sealed the deal and made the announcement himself, Sengottaiyan’s Delhi visit lost relevance.
Since then, Sengottaiyan has skipped several AIADMK events. He was notably absent when Palaniswami launched his statewide campaign “Save the People, Save Tamil Nadu” at Mettupalayam in Coimbatore district.
In return, Palaniswami too avoided visiting Sengottaiyan’s home turf, Erode, during his campaign tour across the Kongu belt—an unmistakable sign of friction between the two.
For several months, Sengottaiyan avoided mentioning Palaniswami’s name in public speeches. Recently, he told the media that only a united AIADMK could defeat the DMK, stressing the need for reconciliation.
His remark was widely seen as a call to bring back sidelined leaders like O Panneerselvam, TTV Dhinakaran, and VK Sasikala into the party fold. Against this backdrop, Sengottaiyan has now announced he will openly speak on 5 September.
Ahead of his announcement, Sengottaiyan held consultations with AIADMK district functionaries in Gobichettipalayam on 2 September.
Bhavanisagar MLA A Bannari, Erode suburban office-bearers, and others from different parts of Erode, including 18 union secretaries, three town secretaries, and 14 municipality secretaries, all of whom pledged their support, attended the meeting.
Speaking at a meeting with party functionaries, Sengottaiyan reportedly instructed each office-bearer from Erode West district to mobilise at least 50 supporters and bring them along for the 5 September event.
“Bring as many people as you can. I will announce the venue shortly. I will reveal my decision at that meeting,” he told them.
He also stressed that when the DMK alliance appears strong, the only way for the AIADMK to succeed is by contesting as a united force. The 5 September gathering is expected to showcase Sengottaiyan’s strength in the Kongu region, a key base for the party.
With senior AIADMK leaders like A Anwar Raja and V Maitreyan already defected to the DMK, political observers say Sengottaiyan’s next move could trigger a fresh headache for the AIADMK leadership.
