Chennai, 27 Nov

Nine time AIADMK MLA KA Sengottaiyan, expelled from the party recently, joined actor-politician Vijay-led TVK here on Thursday, a day after he resigned as legislator.

The 77 year-old leader and his supporters, including a former MP, joined the fledgling Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) here and were welcomed into the party fold by its founder Vijay.

The former state minister and senior politician, who was hailed as MGR loyalist, arrived at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur here, and joined the party along with several supporters, including former AIADMK MP V Sathyabama.

Sengottaiyan, who was rarely seen sporting a shawl, was presented with a yellow-red TVK shawl by Vijay, who hailed "Anna's" (elder brother) 50 years of political experience.

The former minister had joined the AIADMK when its founder, charismatic matinee idol, MG Ramachandran (MGR) founded the party in 1972 after walking out of the DMK following differences with its then chief M Karunanidhi.

TVK insiders feel that Sengottaiyan's presence in the party would help to strengthen the party in the Kongu region, especially the eight Assembly constituencies in Erode district from where he hails from.

Tamil Nadu's western region that includes Coimbatore and Erode is known as 'kongu.'

The nine-time legislator had resigned from the post of Gobichettipalayam MLA on 26 November. He is the second AIADMK MLA after O Panneerselvam supporter PH Manoj Pandian to resign. Manoj Pandian had joined the ruling DMK.

Sengottaiyan was expelled from the AIADMK by its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on October 31 after he met and interacted with sacked leaders Panneerselvam, TTV Dhinakaran, and the latter's aunt VK Sasikala in Ramanathapuram, seeking their re-induction into the the party. Earlier this month, 14 supporters of Sengottaiyan including Sathyabama, too, were removed from the AIADMK.

Personally welcoming him into the party, Vijay said Sengottaiyan's political experience and dedicated work on the field would be an asset to the TVK.

"Annan's 50 years of political experience and dedicated work on the political turf will be a big support to the TVK," Vijay later said in a video message.

"He took on the big responsibility of being an MLA at a young age of 20. He was a symbol of trust for the two great leaders of the AIADMK: MGR and J Jayalalithaa," Vijay said referring to Sengottaiyan’s maiden victory from Sathyamangalam assembly constituency in 1977.

Reacting to the development, BJP state Chief Nainar Nagendran asserted that the BJP-AIADMK alliance would not be affected by Sengottaiyan's decision to join the TVK.

“Our alliance will not be affected. No matter how many alliances are formed, ours' will form the government," after the 2026 polls, Nagendran told reporters in Tirunelveli.