Political Earthquake in Tamil Nadu as Veteran Leader Switches Sides
In a move that signals a significant shift in Tamil Nadu's political dynamics, K.A. Sengottaiyan, an 82-year-old veteran with over five decades of experience in the AIADMK, is poised to join actor Vijay's fledgling political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). This development comes just a month after his expulsion from the AIADMK in October 2025 and represents the first major induction of a senior Dravidian leader into the cinema-star-led outfit.
The Road to TVK: From Expulsion to New Beginnings
According to party insiders, Sengottaiyan is scheduled to formally join the TVK at a party event on Thursday, November 27, 2025. TVK sources confirmed that key leaders John Arockiaswamy and Aadhav Arjun met with the veteran leader last weekend to finalize the groundwork for his induction. Sengottaiyan was also expected to meet Vijay personally on Wednesday to cement his entry into the party.
The veteran leader's journey to this point has been dramatic. After representing the Erode region in the Assembly for over four decades and serving as a minister under three AIADMK leaders—MGR, Jayalalithaa, and Edappadi K. Palaniswami—Sengottaiyan found himself increasingly marginalized within his former party. His political influence had diminished, confined largely to his home turf of Gobichettipalayam in Erode district.
In September 2025, Sengottaiyan issued a 10-day ultimatum demanding reconciliation among warring AIADMK factions, but the move drew little response, revealing his diminished sway. His subsequent trip to Delhi to meet BJP leaders and seek advice from an RSS ideologue backfired, leaving him politically isolated. The final straw came when he joined expelled AIADMK leaders O. Panneerselvam, Sasikala, and T.T.V. Dhinakaran at the Thevar Jayanthi event in Ramanathapuram in late October. On October 31, 2025, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami expelled him for engaging with expelled persons and acting against the party's integrity.
Strategic Gains for TVK and Political Ramifications
Sengottaiyan's entry into TVK provides significant strategic advantages for Vijay's party, which has relied heavily on the actor's star power but lacks experienced leaders with established vote banks. The veteran leader brings with him an uncontested personal vote base in Gobichettipalayam, potentially giving TVK its second "assured" Assembly seat after Vijay himself in the upcoming polls.
A senior TVK spokesperson described Sengottaiyan's availability as an opportunity "to project maturity and signal inclusiveness without inheriting factional baggage." Party strategists compare his potential role to that of Panruti Ramachandran, the octogenarian Dravidian statesman who provided legitimacy to Captain Vijayakanth during the launch of the DMDK in 2005.
This development also fundamentally alters the relationship between TVK and the AIADMK. While Vijay has consistently attacked both the BJP and the DMK in his speeches, he has carefully avoided direct confrontation with the AIADMK, often invoking its icons. Sengottaiyan's crossover effectively shuts the door on any potential TVK-AIADMK alliance, a scenario that had previously concerned the DMK. This gives the ruling DMK an unexpected reprieve while presenting the AIADMK with the prospect of its older guard drifting toward a rival party led by Tamil Nadu's biggest contemporary celebrity.
In a symbolic twist of timing, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has organized a public meeting in Gobichettipalayam on the same day Sengottaiyan is expected to join TVK. Additionally, TVK sources indicated that YouTuber Felix Gerald, a controversial figure and former Puducherry BJP MLA, might also join the party in Vijay's presence.
A Veteran's Last Chance at Political Relevance
For the 82-year-old Sengottaiyan, this move represents what could be his final opportunity to prove his continued relevance in Tamil Nadu politics. Despite his long service and ministerial experience in education, transport, and agriculture portfolios, his political weight had significantly declined in recent years.
Within the AIADMK, reaction to his departure has been muted. A party district secretary from western Tamil Nadu commented, "He has been irrelevant for years. The expulsion only formalised what was already true." Another senior functionary noted that Sengottaiyan was "respected as a senior, not feared as a force."
Yet, for TVK, Sengottaiyan represents more than just electoral calculations. As one TVK leader stated, "Sengottaiyan will be Vijay's Panruti, not for electoral muscle, but for legitimacy and validation." His induction signals a generational handshake between Tamil Nadu's ageing Dravidian establishment and its newest political experiment, potentially reshaping the political landscape ahead of next year's Assembly polls.
