Expelled AIADMK veteran KA Sengottaiyan has officially joined actor Vijay’s political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, marking one of the biggest political shifts ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election. The nine-time MLA was welcomed at the party’s Chennai headquarters, where Vijay personally inducted him and highlighted his long political journey and organisational experience.
Sengottaiyan, a key figure from the Gounder community in western Tamil Nadu, brings decades of experience as a legislator, minister, and grassroots strategist. His entry is being viewed as a game-changing moment for the TVK, which has so far lacked strong second-rung leadership. Party insiders believe he will play a significant organisational role as TVK works to build its cadre base across the state. He is also expected to contribute to policy shaping, constituency planning, and electoral strategy.
The move comes at a crucial time for Vijay’s party, still recovering from the Karur stampede that claimed 41 lives and exposed organisational weaknesses. Political analysts say Sengottaiyan’s deep understanding of constituency-level dynamics could help the party strengthen its structure and sharpen its electoral readiness.
Sengottaiyan was expelled from the AIADMK after repeatedly urging party chief Edappadi Palaniswami to reconcile with sidelined leaders Sasikala, O Panneerselvam, and TTV Dhinakaran. His outreach efforts, including private meetings with these leaders, were viewed as defiance within the AIADMK. His interactions with BJP leaders had also fuelled speculation about his political intentions.
The AIADMK has downplayed his exit, insisting that individual departures will not affect the party’s prospects. The DMK, meanwhile, has dismissed concerns and remarked that the development poses a bigger challenge to the AIADMK than to the ruling coalition.
With this induction, TVK has secured its first major political catch, boosting its credibility and signalling a more aggressive political push as Tamil Nadu moves closer to election season.
