AIADMK Leader Sengottaiyan Denies Issuing 10-Day Deadline to EPS
Sengottaiyan clarifies no 10-day ultimatum for expelled leaders’ return.
Senior All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader and nine-time MLA K. Sengottaiyan has dismissed reports claiming he issued a 10-day deadline to party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) for reinducting expelled leaders, calling the narrative a media misinterpretation. Speaking to reporters at a wedding event, Sengottaiyan clarified, “I never said a 10-day deadline. I only suggested efforts to begin within 10 days, and the process could take a month or more. Positive developments will happen soon.”
The clarification follows a political storm triggered last month when Sengottaiyan urged the AIADMK leadership to reconcile with expelled figures like V.K. Sasikala, T.T.V. Dhinakaran, and O. Panneerselvam to strengthen the party ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. His comments were perceived as a challenge to EPS’s authority, prompting swift action from the party chief, who removed Sengottaiyan and several of his supporters from key party posts. When asked about reported internal confusion, Sengottaiyan deflected, stating, “That’s your view.”
The AIADMK has been grappling with internal divisions and electoral setbacks since the death of its iconic leader J. Jayalalithaa. The party suffered defeats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, and the 2024 parliamentary elections, eroding its once-dominant political base. As the party seeks to rebuild, Sengottaiyan’s call for unity has sparked debate within AIADMK circles, especially with the recent revival of its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the 2026 polls.
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The controversy highlights the delicate balance EPS must strike to maintain control while addressing demands for reconciliation with estranged leaders. Sasikala, Dhinakaran, and Panneerselvam, once key figures in the AIADMK, were expelled amid factional disputes, but their potential return could bolster the party’s voter appeal in key regions. However, reintegration risks reigniting old rivalries, posing a challenge to EPS’s leadership.
As Tamil Nadu’s political landscape heats up, Sengottaiyan’s remarks and their fallout underscore the AIADMK’s urgent need for cohesion to challenge the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the upcoming elections. With the clock ticking, all eyes are on EPS to navigate these internal dynamics and deliver the “positive things” Sengottaiyan hinted at.
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