Overview
- AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami removed the nine-time MLA from primary membership for anti-party activity and directed cadres to avoid all contact with him.
- The move followed Sengottaiyan’s joint homage with O. Panneerselvam and T.T.V. Dhinakaran at the Muthuramalinga Thevar memorial in Pasumpon and a subsequent meeting with V.K. Sasikala.
- Panneerselvam and Dhinakaran framed their coming together as the start of uniting Amma’s followers to challenge Palaniswami in the 2026 Assembly election.
- Palaniswami labeled the dissidents the DMK’s “B-team,” blamed “betrayers” for the 2021 defeat, and had already stripped Sengottaiyan of party posts in September after his unity call.
- Palaniswami also denied any alliance talks with actor Vijay’s TVK, as the episode deepened AIADMK’s internal rifts ahead of next year’s polls.