Veteran Sengottaiyan Joins Vijay’s TVK Party
In a significant political development in Tamil Nadu, veteran politician and former AIADMK leader K.A. Sengottaiyan formally joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the party led by actor-politician Vijay. The high-profile induction took place today, just a day after the nine-time MLA resigned from his seat in the State Assembly, ending a political association with the AIADMK that spanned over five decades.
Sengottaiyan, who was recently expelled from the AIADMK following growing tensions with the current leadership, was warmly welcomed into the new party fold by TVK Chief Vijay at the party’s central office in Chennai. His entry provides the nascent TVK, a party largely built on the massive fan base of its founder, with a much-needed injection of deep political experience and organizational strength.
The former Minister’s decades-long career, which began with M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) and included serving multiple times as a Minister under J. Jayalalithaa, makes him one of the most seasoned politicians to ally with Vijay. Vijay himself acknowledged this history, stating that Sengottaiyan’s “political experience and decades of field work will be a great strength to our Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.”
Sengottaiyan’s influence is particularly strong in the Kongu region of Western Tamil Nadu, an area encompassing districts like Erode, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and The Nilgiris. Recognizing this crucial regional sway, the TVK has immediately appointed him to a key organizational post, tasking him with coordinating party activities across these four western districts.1
The move is widely seen by political observers as a calculated and strategic step by TVK to transition from a fan-based movement into a credible political challenger ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Prior to this, TVK lacked a recognized political face who could independently mobilize votes and manage large-scale organizational work.2 Sengottaiyan’s deep organizational network and proven electoral track record are expected to fill this void instantly.
For Sengottaiyan, the shift provides a platform for continued political relevance after being marginalized and expelled from the party he served for 50 years. Addressing the media, he expressed his confidence in Vijay’s commitment to clean governance and promised that the people of Tamil Nadu, desiring a clean alternative to the ruling and primary opposition parties, would ensure a major victory for the TVK in the upcoming polls. This unexpected alliance has effectively reshaped the political dynamics, signaling a serious threat to the established parties, particularly in the western belt of the state.
