Gobichettipalayam, Aug 24:
Revenue Minister K A Sengottaiyan has claimed that 10 more AIADMK MLAs are set to join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and predicted that the remaining legislators in the Opposition party would also move to the ruling party within six months.
Addressing a TVK public meeting organised in Gobichettipalayam in Erode district to highlight the government’s 100-day achievements, Sengottaiyan said the political strength of the AIADMK would continue to decline and asserted that Chief Minister Vijay would remain in power for the long term.
Sengottaiyan, a veteran politician who himself joined the TVK after leaving the AIADMK, said he had taken the decision to join Vijay because he believed the actor-turned-politician had the political potential to lead Tamil Nadu.
Recalling the criticism he faced when he joined the TVK, Sengottaiyan said several people had questioned his decision, pointing to his 11 electoral defeats.
He said the political situation had now changed and that those who had doubted his decision could see the developments for themselves.
Sengottaiyan also launched a direct attack on AIADMK leader and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami.
“There are only 47 AIADMK MLAs. Of them, another 10 are going to join our TVK. The remaining members will come within six months. After that, AIADMK will become zero,” he claimed.
He, however, did not identify the 10 MLAs whom he claimed were preparing to switch sides, nor did he provide details about when they would join the TVK.
Sengottaiyan also said that the AIADMK would not be able to return to power as long as Palaniswami remained at its helm.
The minister praised the Vijay government, saying the Chief Minister was providing good governance and had demonstrated his political strength within a short period of assuming office.
He also referred to the State government’s decision to provide cars to MLAs for constituency-related work.
Vijay had announced that government vehicles would be provided to legislators, along with financial support towards expenses including the driver, fuel and maintenance, as well as assistance for office-related work.
Sengottaiyan criticised the Opposition’s objections to the move, saying elected representatives needed vehicles to travel across their constituencies and interact with people.
He specifically referred to Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s reported opposition to providing cars to DMK MLAs, arguing that government-provided vehicles would enhance the ability of legislators to serve their constituents.
The remarks at Gobichettipalayam come at a politically significant juncture for the newly formed TVK government, with the party seeking to consolidate its position after its electoral victory.
Sengottaiyan’s claim of another 10 AIADMK MLAs joining the ruling party, if borne out, could have a significant impact on the Opposition’s numerical strength in the Assembly.
For now, however, the claim remains a political assertion, with no names of the alleged defectors disclosed publicly.
The AIADMK is expected to respond to the statement, particularly the prediction that the party could be reduced to zero strength in the Assembly within six months.