AIADMK in turmoil: EPS sacks KA Sengottaiyan, sparks firestorm from OPS, Sasikala, Dhinakaran

Chennai: The AIADMK has been plunged into fresh chaos after party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) on Saturday expelled senior leader and eight-time MLA KA Sengottaiyan from all party posts. The dramatic move, coming just a day after Sengottaiyan issued a 10-day ultimatum for unity talks with expelled leaders, has triggered an avalanche of criticism from across the political spectrum.

Former AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam (OPS) blasted the decision as “the height of dictatorship,” warning that people would “teach EPS a lesson.”

AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran declared it would be a “setback for EPS, not Sengottaiyan,” while ousted AIADMK interim general secretary VK Sasikala ridiculed the move as “childish and against the party’s welfare.”

Even the BJP, AIADMK’s ally for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, distanced itself from the controversy, calling it an “internal matter,” though state unit president Nayinar Nagendhiran again urged all factions to unite against the DMK. Sengottaiyan himself expressed disappointment at not being consulted:

“As a democratic party, they should have sought clarification, but they didn’t,” he said cryptically, hinting at “further developments” in the coming days. Despite the backlash, the AIADMK asserted that EPS’s decision was final, with insiders insisting the party functions with “military-like discipline.”

Upcoming elections in TN:

The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are shaping up to be a high-stakes battle, with the ruling DMK looking to consolidate its position while the AIADMK struggles with infighting and leadership tussles.

Alliances will play a decisive role, as the BJP continues to back the AIADMK despite internal rifts, while smaller parties like AMMK and Sasikala’s camp may influence vote splits.

With issues like governance, corruption, welfare schemes, and leadership credibility at the forefront, the election is expected to be one of the most fiercely contested in recent Tamil Nadu political history