K.A. Sengottaiyan, the former minister and a nine-time MLA from Tamil Nadu's Gobichettipalayam constituency, on Thursday formally joined actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). His entry into the party came a day after he resigned as MLA, ending his 50-year association with the AIADMK.
Arriving with his supporters at Vijay’s Panaiyur party office in Chennai’s suburbs, the 77-year old leader inducted himself formally into the TVK. He was appointed as the chief coordinator of the 28-member high-level state executive committee and also the organising secretary for districts Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Nilgiris. Sengottaiyan is considered to be a powerful leader in these districts given his political experience. He also commands a personal vote bank in Erode and neighbouring districts due to his organisational skills.
Hours after he joined the TVK, Vijay released a video message welcoming him into the party. “At just 20 years of age, he believed in MGR and joined his movement. In that young age, he took the responsibility of becoming a legislator. From then on, throughout his journey, he remained in public life as a trusted figure to the two towering leaders of that movement — MGR and Jayalalithaa. After being part of the same movement for 50 years, Sengottaiyan’s political experience and his contributions on the field will be a great strength to our Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. With that belief, I welcome everyone who joins hands with him and works with us in service of the people.” Later Sengottaiyan said that he joined the TVK because Vijay can give a “better governance.” He said that there is no difference between the DMK and the AIADMK under the present leadership, so he chose TVK.
But Sengottaiyan’s move to the TVK has now emboldened a few former AIADMK ministers and senior leaders who are not happy with EPS’s leadership are likely to launch formal talks with Vijay. Many more inductions, sources say, might see the light of the day, depending on the space given by Vijay to the newcomers from other parties. Former ministers from the south, particularly from Madurai and the Delta region and a few sitting MLAs are likely to join the TVK fold. It is said that Vijay’s party had also held talks with former chief minister O. Panneerselvam. However, there was no positive signal on both sides. It is said that OPS asked for an open meeting with Vijay which can help him analyse and decide his next move. Sources also predict that that in the run up to the elections, more AIADMK factions and a few fringe groups might join Vijay, only with an intention to weaken the AIADMK under Edappadi. K. Palaniswami.
The former minister, who once called on Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman, initially wanted to launch his own party or sue the AIADMK leadership for removing him from the party. But he dropped the decision to take the legal route as he might have to end up like OPS or Sasikala, who have already knocked the doors of the election commission and the court. And launching a new outfit close to the election was not feasible close to the election. However for the TVK, a party built only on Vijay’s popularity with no experienced politician, Sengottaiyan’s entry is looked at as an advantage to strategise and organise from the ground.
