EPS's Iron Grip Tightens: A Fissure in AIADMK as Sengottaiyan is Sidelined, Drawing Fire from Pugazhendhi

The political landscape of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has once again been shaken, as prominent party leader Pugazhendhi launched a scathing attack on General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). The latest flashpoint: EPS's controversial decision to strip veteran leader K.A.

Sengottaiyan of his prestigious roles as the party's presidium chairman and headquarters secretary. This move, according to Pugazhendhi, is not just a political manoeuvre but a desperate act fueled by fear and insecurity.

Pugazhendhi did not mince words, questioning the very legitimacy of EPS's authority, reminding everyone that the General Secretary's post is still under a legal cloud.

He asserted that EPS, rather than consolidating the party, is actively engaged in dismantling it, driven by an unfounded apprehension of Sengottaiyan's growing influence and popularity within the ranks. Sengottaiyan, a steadfast figure with over fifty years of dedicated service, has been a loyal disciple of both MGR and J.

Jayalalithaa, a legacy that Pugazhendhi believes EPS is now disrespecting.

Drawing parallels to the turbulent aftermath of MGR's demise, Pugazhendhi accused EPS of adopting the same divisive tactics that once threatened to tear the AIADMK apart. "Just as some individuals sought to destroy the party after MGR's passing, EPS is now treading the same dangerous path," he declared, predicting a similar ignominious fate for the current General Secretary.

He highlighted EPS's own past remarks where he criticized the 2017 split, ironically now becoming the architect of further internal schisms.

The criticism extended to EPS's alleged targeting of supporters aligned with O. Panneerselvam (OPS), suggesting a concerted effort to purge any dissent or alternative power centres.

Pugazhendhi underscored that Sengottaiyan's removal is a stark "lesson" for those who blindly pledge allegiance to EPS, warning them of the potential consequences of such unwavering loyalty to a leader he portrays as increasingly autocratic. This latest development underscores the deep-seated factionalism continuing to plague the AIADMK, leaving many to wonder about the party's future unity and direction.