Expelled AIADMK Veteran K A Sengottaiyan Joins Vijay' TVK

Chennai: Expelled AIADMK veteran K A Sengottaiyan and his supporters joined actor-politician Vijay-led TVK here on Thursday. The former minister and senior politician who was hailed as MGR loyalist, arrived in the TVK headquarters at Panaiyur here, and joined the fledgling party in the presence of Vijay along with several supporters, including former AIADMK MP V Sathyabama.

Sengottaiyan's induction to TVK is one of the most important defections to TVK since its formation. The nine-time MLA submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker M Appavu on Wednesday. He resigned from the post of Gobichettipalayam MLA.

He was expelled from the AIADMK by its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on October 31 after he met and interacted with the expelled leaders O Panneerselvam, T T V Dhinakaran, and the latter's aunt V K Sasikala in Ramanathapuram. Sengottaiyan openly rebelled against AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, urging him to initiate measures to reinduct the expelled leaders. Later, on November 7, 14 supporters of Sengottaiyan including former MP V Sathyabama, too, were removed from the AIADMK.

TVK insiders feel that his presence in the party would help to strengthen TVK in the Kongu region, especially eight assembly constituencies in Erode district from where he hails.