In a major political development that underscores the deepening factional rift within the AIADMK, the party on Thursday expelled one of its most senior leaders, K.A. Sengottaiyan, a veteran legislator and key figure from Erode district. The move came barely a day after Sengottaiyan met with ousted AIADMK leaders O. Panneerselvam, T.T.V. Dhinakaran, and V.K. Sasikala — a meeting widely seen as an effort to reunify the party’s splintered factions.AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) announced the expulsion following consultations with senior party functionaries at Salem. In a strongly worded statement, Palaniswami said Sengottaiyan was removed from all party positions and stripped of primary membership for actions that had “brought disrepute to the AIADMK and violated party discipline.”
The statement accused Sengottaiyan, who represents the Gobichettipalayam constituency in Erode district, of betraying the party’s trust by engaging with expelled leaders and acting contrary to the AIADMK’s principles. EPS urged cadres and office-bearers not to maintain any contact with the veteran leader, asserting that his conduct went against the unity and integrity of the organization.
Sengottaiyan, 76, is among the AIADMK’s most seasoned politicians, having been elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly eight times. Known as a trusted lieutenant of party founder M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, he has held several key portfolios, including School Education, Transport, and Agriculture, during his long political career.
His expulsion marks a significant turning point, as Sengottaiyan was once considered a close ally of Edappadi K. Palaniswami and played a major role in consolidating support for the EPS-led leadership after the death of Jayalalithaa. However, in recent years, his strained relationship with the current leadership and reported disenchantment with internal party dynamics had become increasingly evident.
Political observers note that his meeting with Panneerselvam, Dhinakaran, and Sasikala — who have all been sidelined by the EPS faction — signaled a possible attempt to forge a united AIADMK front ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The reunion attempt, though brief, appears to have triggered swift disciplinary action from Palaniswami, who has maintained a tight grip over party control since being elected General Secretary earlier this year.
Sengottaiyan’s expulsion is expected to intensify political speculation over a potential regrouping of ousted AIADMK leaders seeking to challenge EPS’s leadership. The development also highlights the continuing turbulence within the AIADMK, which has struggled to recover from internal divisions following Jayalalithaa’s demise in 2016.
For now, the AIADMK leadership appears determined to send a clear message that dissent will not be tolerated — even from its most senior and storied members.