AIADMK Expels Sengottaiyan as Party Rift Deepens Ahead of 2026 Elections
AIADMK Expels Sengottaiyan as Party Rift Deepens Ahead of 2026 Elections
Sengottaiyan's expulsion fuels internal tensions in AIADMK as Palaniswami accuses him of anti-party activity and links to expelled leaders, signaling a high-stakes showdown before the 2026 polls.
AIADMK has expelled veteran leader KA Sengottaiyan, signaling a sharpened rift within the party as it braces for the 2026 elections. The move follows a Salem meeting with party functionaries at which Palaniswami accused Sengottaiyan of pursuing anti-party activities for the past six months and of aligning with leaders expelled from the party, including OPS, Sasikala and Dhinakaran. The decision underscores the ongoing struggle over who controls the party and its direction in Tamil Nadu.
On the governance front, Palaniswami cited work on the Athikadavu-Avinashi water-diversion scheme, noting that 85% of the project was completed during AIADMK's tenure to fill waterbodies across Erode, Tiruppur and Coimbatore, only to slow under the DMK regime and finally finish after three years. The claim was used to argue Sengottaiyan's loyalties lay with anti-party forces rather than the party's development agenda.
Sengottaiyan, speaking from his farmhouse in Kullampalayam, called the expulsion unjustified and said he would contest the move in court. He has previously drawn attention for inviting farmers from various parties to felicitation events and was accused of not attending a function when photos of Jayalalithaa and MGR were missing—an episode Palaniswami said signaled his drift toward the DMK B-team.
Supporters in Sengottaiyan's constituency reportedly celebrated his expulsion, as Palaniswami argued that if he had truly worked for the people and the party, there would be no celebrations. The broader message, he said, was a warning to those who might align with the expelled trio, signaling party unity ahead of the electoral battles.
Separately, Sengottaiyan's ties to the larger factional drama are framed by the recent expulsion of VK Sasikala's aides and veteran leaders, including TTV Dhinakaran, as the AIADMK recalibrates its leadership ahead of 2026. The party's inner circle has repeatedly stressed loyalty to the party's core leadership and Jayalalithaa's legacy, even as opponents push for return of former members.
Cover image source: AIADMK sacks veteran leader Sengottaiyan for joining expelled trio OPS, TTV, Sasikala 🔗
