In Chennai, former AIADMK heavyweight K.A. Sengottaiyan has spurred a surge of interest in the up‑and‑coming Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) after his surprise move from the party and his meeting with actor Vijay.
According to people close to TVK, the veteran is now turning to mid‑level AIADMK members who feel sidelined by the current top brass.
His appeal is simple, they say: TVK is a fresh political arena that offers a break from the uncertainty swirling around AIADMK’s internal direction.
The decision to side with Vijay came as a shock to political watchers, especially since most in AIADMK had expected Sengottaiyan to lean toward T.T.V. Dhinakaran or former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.
Within TVK, his choice is being framed as a targeted move to bring seasoned AIADMK figures—who bring deep regional and caste networks—into the fold.
After his induction with Vijay, TVK named him chief coordinator on the party’s high‑level administrative committee and appointed him organising secretary for the influential Kongu belt, which includes Coimbatore, Erode, Nilgiris and Tiruppur. Those districts have historically aligned with AIADMK, so Sengottaiyan’s strong ties there are seen as a strategic gain for TVK.
Sources say he is speeding up his outreach ahead of the AIADMK general council meeting on December 10, hoping to tap into existing unrest.
TVK believes that adding recognizable faces with local credibility will help expand its organisational reach before the 2026 assembly elections.
The AIADMK, for its part, has tried to downplay how much influence the veteran’s outreach could have. Party spokesperson Kovai Sathyan stressed that the party remains loyal and committed.
“AIADMK is built on loyalty and accountability,” he said. “Those who failed in their responsibilities were sidelined. Even if Sengottaiyan approaches AIADMK workers, those who may leave are mostly nearing retirement. No youngster who sees a future here will walk away. Ours is not a dynastic party.”
As the council meeting draws near, political pundits warn that Sengottaiyan’s tactics could strain AIADMK’s internal unity. Whether his behind‑the‑scenes strategy results in defections—or whether the party manages to stem the growing discontent—will be a key storyline in Tamil Nadu politics.
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