Chennai: AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami has orchestrated a mass expulsion of party members, removing 13 individuals in a sweeping action that has sent shockwaves through the Tamil Nadu opposition party. The latest purge targets key supporters of former minister Sengottaiyan, who was himself expelled just last week, signaling a zero-tolerance policy towards dissent.
The List of Expulsions: A Broad Sweep Against Dissent
The AIADMK leadership has issued orders for the expulsion of twelve more partymen, following the removal of former Minister Sengottaiyan. Among those ousted are Erode Suburban West District Treasurer Kandavel Murugan and Nambiyur AIADMK Union Secretary Subramaniam. This action also includes the formal expulsion of Sathiyabama, a known Sengottaiyan supporter. The systematic removal of these individuals points to a strategic effort to dismantle the network of the senior leader and eradicate his influence within the party’s grassroots structure.
The Sengottaiyan Trigger: A Veteran Leader’s Defiance
The catalyst for this dramatic purge was the conduct of former Minister and Gopichettipalayam MLA, Sengottaiyan. A veteran politician from the MGR era who first became an MLA in 1977, Sengottaiyan had recently been openly critical of the party’s General Secretary, Edappadi Palaniswami. His defiance culminated in a significant act of rebellion when he attended the Thevar Jayanti event in Pasumpon on October 30th. There, he was seen garlanding the statue of Thevar alongside EPS’s chief rivals, O. Panneerselvam (OPS) and TTV Dhinakaran. Sengottaiyan further escalated tensions by traveling in the same car as OPS and holding a joint press conference with the two leaders, a move perceived as a direct challenge to EPS’s leadership.
A United Front of Rivals and a Meeting with Sasikala
The Thevar Jayanti event became a focal point for AIADMK’s internal strife, showcasing a united front of EPS’s opponents. The public coming together of Sengottaiyan, OPS, and TTV Dhinakaran sent a powerful message of a potential alliance against the current party leadership. Adding another layer to the political drama, Sengottaiyan also met and conversed with V.K. Sasikala, the former aide of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Reports suggest that when Sasikala expressed sympathy for Sengottaiyan losing his party posts, he remarked that he would be happy even if expelled from the party, highlighting his growing estrangement from the EPS camp.
Edappadi Palaniswami’s Firm Stance: Labeling Rivals as Traitors
In response to these developments, Edappadi Palaniswami has taken an uncompromising stand. He publicly labelled Sengottaiyan, OPS, and TTV Dhinakaran as “traitors” for their actions. He stated that he had no hesitation in expelling Sengottaiyan from the party and warned that stringent action would be taken against anyone who acts against the party’s interests. Following consultations with his supporters and party executives in Salem, EPS formalized the expulsions through an official press release, demonstrating his firm control over the party machinery.
The Aftermath: A Stir Within the AIADMK
The mass expulsion of a senior MLA and over a dozen of his associates has created a significant stir within the AIADMK, plunging the party into a state of internal turmoil. This move underscores EPS’s determination to centralize power and sideline any faction seen as disloyal. The dramatic removal of Sengottaiyan, a politician with a legacy dating back to the 1970s, along with his supporters, marks a critical juncture for the party, potentially reshaping its internal dynamics and its strategy as the principal opposition in Tamil Nadu.