Gobi, Sept 5:
Former AIADMK Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan has made a fervent appeal for unity within the AIADMK, stressing that his personal efforts are now directed toward reconciling estranged leaders within a span of 10 days. Reflecting on the party’s tumultuous journey since the demise of its towering leaders M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and J. Jayalalithaa, Sengottaiyan underlined the urgency of bringing together warring factions if the party is to regain its electoral strength.
In a candid interaction, Sengottaiyan acknowledged that the AIADMK’s political fortunes had weakened after 2016, with successive setbacks in the 2019 parliamentary elections, the 2021 Assembly polls, and the 2024 local body elections. “The party has survived great storms before. But without unity, it cannot rise again. I have dedicated myself to prevent splits, even when opportunities came twice earlier,” he said.
Sengottaiyan, who began his career as a branch secretary under party founder MGR, shared personal anecdotes of his early association with the matinee idol-turned-leader. He recalled MGR personally praising him for his organizational skills, including his role in arranging a crucial general body meeting when he served as treasurer. He also fondly remembered MGR’s practice of personally reaching out to members who had drifted away from the party—a trait Sengottaiyan believes is vital for today’s AIADMK leadership to emulate.
Tracing the party’s leadership transitions, Sengottaiyan said that following MGR’s passing, Jayalalithaa emerged as the natural leader owing to her political acumen and resolve. After her demise, he recounted, Sasikala was called upon to guide the party before Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) eventually took the reins. Through these changes, Sengottaiyan said his foremost aim was to ensure the organization did not fracture, even when internal rifts posed existential threats.
He warned that the AIADMK cannot afford prolonged infighting, especially when faced with a resurgent DMK and the rise of new political players like Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). “The cadre base is strong, but without a unified leadership, their energy is wasted. We must act quickly, within the next ten days, to heal divisions,” he emphasized, hinting at behind-the-scenes efforts to broker reconciliation among senior leaders.
Political observers note that Sengottaiyan’s intervention comes at a critical juncture, with the AIADMK struggling to assert itself as the principal opposition in Tamil Nadu. His stature as a senior leader with decades of loyalty to the party lends weight to his call for unity, though it remains to be seen whether rival factions led by EPS, O. Panneerselvam, and T.T.V. Dhinakaran can be brought under a common banner.
For Sengottaiyan, however, the message is clear: the AIADMK’s survival and revival depend not on individual ambitions but on collective resolve. “We owe it to MGR and Amma’s legacy. If we fail to stand together now, history will not forgive us,” he concluded.