Chennai: Triggering speculations of a widening rift with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, the party’s senior leader K A Sengottaiyan said he was moving in the right direction and that his victory was certain.
Speaking at a private event in Chennai on Saturday, Sengottaiyan said his actions are being closely watched now and that he cannot express his thoughts explicitly. “My goal is lofty, my path is defined and my victory is certain,” He said. Quoting a verse by poet Bharathiar, Sengottaiyan said he would not go down like ordinary men.
The AIADMK leader also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him the best PM India has ever seen. “During Covid, he gave vaccines to everyone free of cost. If we are living safely within the boundaries of India, he is the reason,” he added.
The comments made at the event organised by a Youtube channel, where NTK chief Seeman also participated, were widely shared on social media by BJP men who said Sengottaiyan was the first AIADMK leader to praise Modi after the party walked out of NDA in 2023. While AIADMK leaders chose not to react to Sengottaiyan’s comments lauding Modi, former AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran have backed him. Dhinakaran said Sengottaiyan has aired the views of 90% of AIADMK cadres who want a stronger AIADMK.
The speech comes in the backdrop of a speculated rift between EPS and Sengottaiyan ever since he skipped the event organised to felicitate EPS, for implementing Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme, on Feb 9 in Coimbatore.
Though Sengottaiyan denied any rift with the party leadership, he was notably absent from the AIADMK MLAs’ meeting and avoided meeting EPS on the day of budget. Sengottaiyan also met assembly speaker M Appavu without informing EPS. Sengottaiyan said he met Appavu seeking permission to move a calling attention motion. Nevertheless, the AIADMK leadership did not approve of his actions.
AIADMK spokesperson S Vaigaichelvan said the former minister acted against party rules. “Instead of discussing his concerns with our general secretary, it is indecent for Sengottaiyan to air his grievances in public,” he said.