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Chennai, October 30 (IANS) AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday met with dissident leaders KA Sengottaiyan, O. Accused Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran of betraying the party and working as “DMK’s B team”.
His comments came hours after Sengottaiyan joined the two expelled leaders to jointly pay homage at the Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar memorial in Ramanathapuram – a move that has created fresh turmoil within the AIADMK.
The three leaders garlanded Thevar’s statue together and performed aarti using the same plate, in an open display of unity that left AIADMK workers in shock.
Sengottaiyan’s participation was particularly significant, as even though he was stripped of his organizational posts, he remained as a primary member of the party.
Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Palaniswami said those seeking an alliance with the DMK include AIADMK founder MG Ramachandran and former chief minister J. Going against Jayalalitha’s legacy.
He said, “Panneerselvam had recently said that DMK will come back to power in 2026. These people are working as DMK’s B team. Because of such treacherous people, AIADMK could not come back to power in 2021.”
When asked about Sengottaiyan’s actions, Palaniswami warned that disciplinary action would be taken against anyone acting against the interests of the party. “Whoever works against the party will face action. AIADMK cannot be defeated by traitors,” he said. He said discussing the coming together of Sengottaiyan, OPS and Dhinakaran is a “waste of time”.
Responding to questions about the series of electoral defeats under his leadership, Palaniswami said that the AIADMK had ruled successfully for 10 years, while the DMK had collapsed in 2011 due to poor performance.
He commented, “Despite Karunanidhi’s leadership, the DMK could not even become the major opposition party. Yet, the media keeps attacking us, whether we are in power or in the opposition.”
Palaniswami also rejected reports of any alliance talks with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) for the 2026 assembly elections.
He clarified, “We have not discussed with TVK, nor have they contacted us. This is entirely a media fabrication.”
The day’s developments have once again exposed the deep factional rift within the AIADMK, with Sengottaiyan’s move being seen as a direct challenge to Palaniswami’s leadership – which may soon invite disciplinary action.
–IANS
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