AIADMK Senior Leader K. Sengottaiyan Clarifies Statements on Reinstatement of Expelled Party Members

AIADMK party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) veteran and nine-time MLA K. Sengottaiyan has refuted claims that he issued a 10-day ultimatum to party president Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) regarding the reinstatement of expelled party leaders.

Sengottaiyan clarified that his statements, which caused significant controversy, were "misinterpreted" and inaccurately conveyed by certain media outlets.

"I never said a 10-day deadline," Sengottaiyan explained to reporters while attending a wedding function. "I merely suggested that efforts should commence within 10 days, and the entire process might require a month or possibly six weeks. Please understand this clearly. Soon, positive developments will occur - favorable outcomes are on the horizon," he further elaborated.

When questioned about reported discord within the AIADMK, he simply responded: "That's your perspective."

Previously in the month, Sengottaiyan had ignited political tension by implicitly urging the AIADMK leadership to extend forgiveness and welcome back expelled figures including V.K. Sasikala, T.T.V. Dhinakaran, and O. Panneerselvam, contending that unity was crucial for recapturing power in the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

His statements were interpreted as a direct confrontation with EPS, who subsequently removed Sengottaiyan and several of his supporters from their official positions within the party.

These remarks emerged as the AIADMK continues to struggle following three successive electoral defeats - the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, and the 2024 parliamentary elections - which have substantially diminished its political influence since the passing of party founder J Jayalalithaa.

Currently, with the AIADMK rekindling its alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2026 elections, Sengottaiyan's appeal for unity has acquired renewed significance within party circles.