Chennai, November 27, 2025 — In a dramatic political shift just months before the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, K.A. Sengottaiyan, one of AIADMK’s longest-serving leaders, formally joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party founded by actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay. The 77-year-old veteran, expelled from AIADMK in October, resigned as MLA from Gobichettipalayam on November 26 to comply with anti-defection laws.
At the party’s Panaiyur office in Chennai, Vijay personally welcomed him by draping TVK’s yellow-red shawl—marking the first major high-profile defection to TVK since its launch in 2024.
A Significant Boost for TVK’s Kongu Belt Aspirations
Sengottaiyan was appointed as:
- TVK Organisation Secretary for Coimbatore, Erode, Tiruppur & Nilgiris
- Chief Coordinator of TVK’s high-level administrative committee
This positions him as the party’s primary strategist in the Kongu region—traditionally an AIADMK fortress.
His entry, accompanied by former AIADMK MP Sathyabama Mohan and several Kongu-based functionaries, signals TVK’s intention to rapidly build its ground network before the 2026 polls.
A Political Journey Spanning Five Decades
Sengottaiyan joined AIADMK in 1972 as an MGR Mandram activist and became one of the youngest MLAs in 1977. Over nine terms, he held portfolios including Education, Highways, and Electricity, earning praise from both MGR and Jayalalithaa.
But under current AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), he increasingly felt sidelined. His attempts to reunite fractured AIADMK factions after the 2024 LS defeat—meeting OPS, Sasikala, Dhinakaran, and even BJP leaders—accelerated his expulsion in October 2025.
Why He Switched to Vijay’s TVK
Sengottaiyan cited multiple reasons:
1. AIADMK’s Deep Internal Rupture
“The AIADMK has already split into three pieces… It only exists in name,” he said.
2. DMK–AIADMK “Collusion”
He alleged both major Dravidian parties “travel together” behind the scenes, leaving voters disillusioned.
3. Demand for a “Clean, Sacred Government”
He described TVK as a punitha (sacred), corruption-free alternative.
4. BJP’s Silence After Promising AIADMK Unity
Despite assurances from senior BJP leaders, the national party “did nothing,” leaving him politically isolated.
Rejecting speculation that he might join DMK, he said:
“I have done politics for 50 years only opposing the DMK. I will never join them.”
Vijay’s First Major Political Endorsement
Welcoming him, Vijay said:
“Sengottaiyan’s five decades of political experience and fieldwork will strongly support TVK’s growth. Good things will happen, and victory is certain.”
TVK general secretary Arun Raj added that his arrival “greatly strengthens the party” in the Kongu belt.
AIADMK and BJP Downplay the Impact
AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said:
“The Two-Leaves symbol is bigger than any individual… His departure will not hurt the party.”
BJP TN president Nainar Nagendran denied that BJP influenced his decision, calling it “his personal move.”
Political Implications Ahead of 2026
This development:
- Gives TVK its first heavyweight organiser with grassroots machinery
- Weakens AIADMK’s already fractured structure
- Signals BJP’s indirect distancing from AIADMK
- Boosts TVK’s credibility as a third force in TN politics
- Intensifies the fight for western Tamil Nadu—critical for any party seeking power
Public enthusiasm for Vijay, particularly among young and first-time voters, may further amplify TVK’s momentum.