Explanations and back-to-back press conferences: Sengotttaiyan, TTV Dhinakaran and EPS call each other traitors, DMK’s B team

A day after his expulsion from the party, senior leader Gobichettipalayam MLA K.A. Sengottaiyan, on Saturday, said he will legally challenge his expulsion. Calling his expulsion as “painful” and “unfair” Sengottaiyan said that Edappadi K. Palaniswami was serving only as the “temporary general secretary” of the AIADMK.

“The action against me is painful and unfair. I wish to continue as a member of the AIADMK, and I will file a case in this regard,” he told the media during a press conference at his office in Gobichettipalayam. Sengottaiyan who has been part of the party for the past 53 years, since its inception and had held various positions, said that his expulsion was “unjustified” and called it “autocratic” by the leadership. Stating that his expulsion was without any explanation, he said, the party leadership should have sent a notice to him and sought explanation as per the party rule. He said that he shed tears and lost sleep, after hearing that he was expelled from the party.

Recalling his long stint in the party for the past five decades, Sengotttaiyan explained that he sacrificed the leadership position twice, even when there were opportunities, after the death of Jayalalithaa for the sake of unity. “There were no defeats during MGR’s period. But when Amma faced defeats she ensured that the party bounced back in the next election,” Sengottaiyan said while indirectly pointing out at the continuous defeats faced by the party since 2019, after the demise of Jayalalithaa. He also said that he recommended EPS for the chief minister's post after Jayalalithaa’s death. “I have repeatedly urged for unity. My only intention is that the party can win only if we are united. If we fail again in 2026, who will take responsibility? My call was only to start the unity talks within 10 days, it was not an ultimatum,” he said during the press conference. Sengottaiyan also said that EPS was only a temporary general secretary and he doesn’t have powers to remove him from the party.

Minutes after Sengottaiyan’s press conference, EPS, flanked by a few party seniors, came out with explanations, at a press conference, at his home town Salem. Clarifying with video and audio clips, EPS branded Sengottaiyan as “DMK’s B team” and as a “traitor.” He said Sengottaiyan had opened channels with Dhinakaran, OPS and Sasikala who were expelled from the party.

A few minutes after Palaniswami’s press conference, Dhinakaran, clarified that Sengottaiyan had a genuine concern and branding him as a “traitor” was unfair. Coming down heavily on Palaniswami, Dhinakaran said that it was Sasikala and he who saved the AIADMK government after the demise of Jayalalithaa.

What does the party bylaw say?

After the first general council meeting was held in 1974, a committee was set up to come up with the party’s constitution. The party bylaw was formulated in 1976, under the leadership of MGR. The party’s bylaw rule No. 43, the general secretary will have to elected only by the party members. The general council has complete authority to bring in any changes in the party’s bylaw, but this rule No. 43 alone cannot be changed. When MGR and Jayalalithaa were leading the party, there were no challengers to the party leadership and no one else contested against them. But when Jayalalithaa took over the party, internal elections were held and even then no one challenged her and she was always elected unanimously.

But after Jayalalithaa, the general council elected V.K. Sasikala as the temporary general secretary. But she was not elected, like how Jayalalithaa was elected by the party members. So after she went to the prison she was removed from the party post and then a temporary decision was taken to run the party under a dual leadership. Subsequently, in 2021, an election was held to elect both OPS and EPS coordinator and joint coordinator.

However, EPS has emerged as the undisputed leader of the party. With Sengottaiyan’s expulsion, EPS has sent a strong message to the party insiders that he will not encourage any rebellion in the party. But will this undisputed leadership power lead the party to power in 2026.