His call for AIADMK unification ignored, ex-minister Sengottaiyan joins hands with rebels OPS, TTV

The 3 leaders say they have vowed to bring back legacy of MGR & Jayalalithaa. OPS says they are not against party, only against EPS. EPS hits back saying traitors can't harm AIADMK.

File photo of senior AIADMK leader and former minister K.A. Sengottaiyan at a press conference in Erode district | By special arrangement

Chennai: Senior AIADMK leader and former minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, who had last month called for the unification of all breakaway factions of the party, on Wednesday joined hands with former AIADMK leader O. Panneerselvam and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran.

Sengottaiyan joined the breakaway leaders at the Devar Jayanthi commemorations at Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram district. Asked about the possibility of being sacked from the AIADMK, he said he would be happy.

Speaking to the reporters, TTV Dhinakaran said they have vowed to bring back the legacy of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa.

“We have come here to pay our respects to our great leader Muthuramalinga Thevar. Unity among those who believe in Amma’s legacy will naturally happen—it cannot be stopped. We vowed to bring back the legacy of Purathi Thalaivar (MGR) and Purathi Thalaivi Amma (Jayalalithaa). We are not against the party, but only against EPS who is a traitor,” TTV Dhinakaran told reporters.

Panneerselvam also pitched for a unified AIADMK. “A unified AIADMK is the expectation of every cadre. Sacking veteran leaders and ignoring their voice is the peak of dictatorship. Today it is not about alliances alone. The people of Tamil Nadu are waiting for a force that honours Amma’s legacy and the sacrifices of Thevar Ayya,” he said.

On 5 September, former minister K.A. Sengottaiyan expressed disappointment over the party’s leadership and pitched for unification of all breakaway leaders of the party without naming them. He had also set a 10-day deadline for the party leadership to unite. However, a day after the statement, he was stripped of all party posts.

After paying floral respects to Muthuramalinga Thevar, OPS and K.A. Sengottaiyan met V.K. Sasikala, close aide of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. After a brief discussion, they dispersed from Pasumpon in Ramanathapuram.

Reacting to the meetings, Edappadi K Palaniswami told reporters in Madurai that the unification of the three leaders would not affect AIADMK.

“Traitors cannot do anything to the party and the unification of the three would not affect the party,” EPS told the reporters in Madurai.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)