The 77-year-old KA Sengottaiyan, who is rarely seen sporting a shawl, was presented with a yellow-red TVK shawl by TVK chief Vijay, as the latter warmly welcomed into the TVK fold
Expelled AIADMK leader Sengottaiyan, 'MGR loyalist', joins actor Vijay’s TVK
Former nine-time MLA Sengottaiyan joins the fledgling party in Chennai; Move is expected to boost TVK's influence in the key Kongu region
In a key shift in political alliances in Tamil Nadu, expelled AIADMK leader K A Sengottaiyan and his supporters joined actor-politician Vijay-led TVK in Chennai on Thursday (November 27).
The former minister and senior politician, who was hailed as MGR loyalist, arrived in the TVK headquarters at Panaiyur in Chennai, and joined the fledgling party in the presence of Vijay along with several supporters, including former AIADMK MP V Sathyabama.
Boost to TVK in Kongu region
The 77-year-old Sengottaiyan, who is rarely seen sporting a shawl, was presented with a yellow-red TVK shawl by Vijay.
Also read: Why Sengottaiyan's exit could make or break larger AIADMK flock
TVK insiders feel that his presence in the party would help to strengthen TVK in the Kongu region, especially eight assembly constituencies in Erode district from where he hails.
Expelled from AIADMK
The nine-time legislator had resigned from the post of Gobichettipalayam MLA on November 26. He is the second AIADMK MLA after O Panneerselvam supporter P H Manoj Pandian to resign. Manoj Pandian joined the ruling DMK.
Also read: Sengottaiyan resigns as MLA to avoid defection law, eyes TVK
He was expelled from the AIADMK by its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on October 31 after he met and interacted with the expelled leaders O Panneerselvam, T T V Dhinakaran, and the latter’s aunt V K Sasikala in Ramanathapuram, seeking their re-induction into the AIADMK.
On November 7, 14 supporters of Sengottaiyan including former MP V Sathyabama, too, were removed from the AIADMK.