AIADMK Veteran Sengottaiyan Joins Vijay's TVK, Bolsters Party's Kongu Belt Presence

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In a significant move, K A Sengottaiyan, a nine-time MLA and veteran of the AIADMK, joined Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), a party founded by actor and politician Vijay, in Chennai on Thursday. This comes a day after Sengottaiyan resigned as MLA and just days after he was expelled from the AIADMK for meeting with ousted leaders. Sengottaiyan, a 77-year-old leader who has been in politics for over five decades, was welcomed by Vijay himself at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur. The actor-politician acknowledged Sengottaiyan's legacy, noting his dedication to the AIADMK and its founders, including M G Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. Sengottaiyan's entry into TVK is seen as a strategic gain for the party, particularly in the Kongu belt, where he has significant influence. His presence is expected to boost TVK's presence in the eight assembly constituencies of Erode district, which is his home turf. This development comes after Sengottaiyan's expulsion from the AIADMK on October 31, following his meeting with ousted leaders Panneerselvam, T T V Dhinakaran, and Sasikala. His resignation as MLA on November 26 was followed by his joining TVK, where he was welcomed by Vijay and other party members. The BJP, however, has downplayed the development, with state president Nainar Nagendran stating that the AIADMK-BJP alliance remains unaffected and will form the government after the 2026 polls.