AIADMK Expels Senior Leader K A Sengottaiyan for Misconduct

The AIADMK has officially expelled senior leader K A Sengottaiyan for actions deemed detrimental to the party’s reputation. The decision, announced by general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, was unanimously agreed upon by the party’s general council, marking the resolution as final and binding.

Palaniswami accused Sengottaiyan of acting as a covert representative for the ruling DMK, alleging that he has engaged in anti-party activities over the past six months. He cited an incident on February 9, 2024, when Sengottaiyan declined to attend a function celebrating the Athikadavu Avinashi project, which had benefitted his constituency in Erode district. Instead, he chose to participate in a bicycle distribution event featuring prominent images of late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and current Chief Minister M K Stalin.

This decision to boycott was described by Palaniswami as indicative of Sengottaiyan’s alignment with the DMK’s interests. He emphasized that Sengottaiyan’s participation in the bicycle distribution event, where DMK leaders were prominently displayed, showed a clear shift in loyalty. “This shows he had started the work of the B team from that time onwards,” Palaniswami remarked, presenting a photograph of Sengottaiyan at the event to support his claims.

Sengottaiyan, who served as a minister and has been an MLA for eight terms representing Gobichettipalayam, was expelled from the party on October 31, 2023. His removal followed his attendance at the Muthuramalinga Thevar‘s 118th birth anniversary celebrations alongside ousted leaders O Panneerselvam and T T V Dhinakaran, as well as a meeting with former party leader V K Sasikala.

Palaniswami clarified that the decision to expel Sengottaiyan was not a personal choice but rather a collective agreement within the party. He stated, “It’s not my decision but it’s the unanimous decision of the party’s general council, which expelled him for anti-party activities. This decision is final and binding.”

Accusations against Sengottaiyan included claims of him functioning like a “local chieftain” in his district, which reportedly led to dissatisfaction among fellow AIADMK members. Reports suggest that there is a sense of relief and celebration among party ranks following his removal, indicating a shift in internal dynamics.

This development highlights the ongoing tensions within the AIADMK and its challenges in maintaining unity amidst external pressures and internal dissent. As the party navigates its future direction, the ramifications of this decision are likely to resonate in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.