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AIADMK factionalism comes to the fore as disgruntled leaders find new avenues to extend political significance
Sengottaiyan’s gesture of rejecting the TVK shawl suggests a strategy to keep alive and leverage his AIADMK connection. (File pic: DTNext)
In politics, subtle gestures and murmured giveaways often reveal the real state of play. A recent instance was KA Sengottaiyan’s demeanour after his switch to Thamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). During a press conference, TVK leader Aadhava Arjun placed a party shawl over Sengottaiyan’s shoulders to symbolise his official induction into the TVK. However, Sengottaiyan coldly removed the shawl, and questions from the press highlighted that he still carried a picture of AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa in his shirt pocket, a typical feature of AIADMK leaders’ attire.
Sengottaiyan’s gesture of rejecting the TVK shawl suggests a strategy to keep alive and leverage his AIADMK connection. Despite being a seasoned lawmaker, an organisational man, and a known strength in the state, his AIADMK link signifies something more: he is a true-blue AIADMK loyalist switching sides from Edappadi Palaniswami to an outsider who claims to be the main enemy of the DMK.
This is significant because the original identity of the AIADMK is inherently anti-DMK. In essence, anything that opposes the DMK heart and soul must be AIADMK. Anything less would not honour the legacy of its icons—MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. A veteran AIADMK man like Sengottaiyan switching to the TVK is a powerful endorsement of TVK’s declared stance against the DMK.
Therefore, Jayalalithaa’s picture should remain in Sengottaiyan’s shirt pocket, and the TVK shawl should not be on his shoulders. To help the TVK, he needs to stay an AIADMK leader through and through, as that is his currency. Before Sengottaiyan’s departure, Alangulam MLA Manoj Pandian resigned to join the DMK; Ottakarathevar Panneerselvam is reported to be working hard for AIADMK unification, failing which he might join the DMK.
The signs indicate that AIADMK’s factionalism is causing splits ahead of elections, with leaders aligning with parties best suited for their political futures. While the real damage that Sengottaiyan or O Panneerselvam can cause to AIADMK is debatable, the fact remains that AIADMK is struggling to consolidate and control the anti-DMK forces within its fold, which benefits the DMK.
Barring actor Vijay’s remarkable presence, TVK has decades of work ahead to achieve the booth-level milestones of the Dravidian parties and sub-regional parties like Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi (VCK), who go the extra mile to ring-fence and nurture their audiences, as the votes are finite, limited to territories, and vulnerable to shift.
The TVK would gain immensely from Sengottaiyan’s experience, but he alone cannot orchestrate a turnaround in electoral fortunes. If anything, his good performance would only dilute AIADMK’s vote share, thereby giving the DMK an advantage in the forthcoming elections.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 04, 2025, 17:21 IST
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