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Chennai, November 3 (IANS) AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Launching a scathing attack on Palaniswami (EPS), expelled veteran KA Sengottaiyan on Monday accused him of promoting “dynasty politics” within the party – a charge often leveled against its key rival, the DMK.
Speaking to reporters at the Coimbatore International Airport, the nine-time MLA from Gobichettipalayam alleged that close relatives of Palaniswami were influencing party affairs.
Sengottaiyan said, “The issues coming up one by one clearly indicate hereditary politics in AIADMK. This is not limited to DMK alone. It is a known fact that Palaniswami’s son, brother-in-law and son-in-law are interfering in his political activities.”
He stressed that such tendencies were against the principles on which the AIADMK was founded by late leaders MG Ramachandran and J. Jayalalitha did it.
He commented, “Despite differences, I have always worked for the development of the party since the days of MGR and Amma. My only aim was to strengthen the AIADMK, not to divide it. Palaniswami should not deceive others – or himself – by claiming to have accomplished what he could not accomplish.”
A veteran MLA and one of the senior most faces of the AIADMK until his expulsion, Sengottaiyan was recently removed from the party after he criticized ousted leaders O. Had meetings with Panneerselvam, TTV Dhinakaran and VK Sasikala.
His reach out to these former leaders – who were sidelined by Palaniswami after the 2017 power struggle – has been interpreted as an effort to explore a possible reconciliation between various AIADMK factions.
The removal is the latest in a series of internal rifts within the party since EPS took power as sole general secretary.
Many senior leaders have expressed dissatisfaction over the “control of one person” over the organization and the growing influence of Palaniswami’s family circle.
Political observers say Sengottaiyan’s open attack reflects growing cracks ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, where the AIADMK is expected to regroup against a revived DMK. They say his comments could further complicate efforts to show unity within the opposition camp.
–IANS
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