Tamil Nadu Minister K Sengottaiyan on Tuesday denied allegations of “compromising” against Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) and said that “only time will tell” whether the resigned legislators will contest on behalf of the party in their respective constituencies.
He said: “I cannot answer every question. Time will reveal these matters.”
The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have alleged that TVK is doing “horse trading” as four legislators from the AIADMK camp resigned to join TVK in the last two days.
“There was no horse trading in TVK and even I myself resigned from my position as a legislator and later joined the party,” said Sengottaiyan, who is also Minister of Revenue and Disaster Management.
Sengottaiyan was in the AIADMK for several decades and tendered his resignation from the post of Gobichettipalayam MLA in November 2025 and joined TVK. He was appointed as Chief Coordinator by TVK Chairman C Joseph Vijay. He competed for the 10th time in Gobichettipalayam under TVK ticket and emerged victorious.
Read also:Who is TVK’s KA Sengottaiyan, the ninth-time Tamil Nadu MLA in Vijay’s camp?
“People tendered their resignation and joined TVK, it was of their own volition. Those who left (AIADMK) came to TVK then. I did not convince anyone to join. Even 25 people (AIADMK MLAs) extended their support to TVK of their own volition in the state assembly,” he said.
Twenty-five MLAs of the AIADMK faction led by C Ve Shanmugam extended their support to TVK when Governor Rajendra Arlikar ordered the party to hold a floor test to prove its majority to form the government.
Commenting on the Opposition’s comments on the government’s law and order, Sengottaiyan said: “We can do things one by one. We must also give time. However, when such crimes happen (like what happened in Coimbatore), the Prime Minister takes quick action through the department concerned.”
The four lawmakers who switched from AIDMK – S Jayakumar (Perundurai), P Sathyabama (Dharapuram), Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam), Esakki Subaya (Ambasamudram) – tendered their resignation to join TVK over the past two days. Soon after receiving their resignations, Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar announced that the Election Commission would be notified of the vacant seats.
Meanwhile, Thul Thirumavalavan, president of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), said AIADMK legislators joining the ruling TVK is not a healthy political trend.
“I ask the TVK leadership not to encourage such actions. Even if anyone resigns from his position in the Legislative Council and joins the party, it will affect the credibility of TVK. So I ask the TVK leadership to be careful in this matter,” he said.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Minister P Shanmugam said the sudden resignation of a few AIADMK MLAs and all of them joining TVK has become a topic of “discussion” in the state.
“Post elections, the constant confusion and factional disputes within the AIADMK have led to this situation. Even if it is said that the resignation of MLAs joining TVK is a decision taken by them of their own volition, it cannot be considered a natural occurrence without expecting any returns,” he said.
“We point out that such a trend is not appropriate for sound policy,” he said.
VCK and CPI(M), which won two seats in the state assembly elections under the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, formed a post-election alliance with the ruling TVK.
