Chennai: Senior AIADMK chief and former minister Okay.A. Sengottaiyan, who had not too long ago expressed disappointment over celebration’s management, has now pitched for a unification of all breakaway leaders of the celebration, setting a 10-day deadline for the celebration management to unite.

Talking to reporters in Erode district Friday, Sengottaiyan mentioned the AIADMK can not afford divisions, if it desires to return again to energy in 2026.

Sengottaiyan additionally set a deadline for unification of the breakaway leaders. “All who’re to be united should be introduced collectively inside ten days. In the event that they don’t, I’ll carry collectively like-minded folks,” he mentioned.

With out naming former AIADMK chief V.Okay. Sasikala, T.T.V. Dhinakaran and O. Panneerselvam, he harassed he was not deciding who ought to reunite, however was leaving it to the overall secretary.

“It isn’t my choice who ought to be reunited. It’s for the overall secretary to determine. However I’ll push for unity, as a result of solely then can AIADMK regain its power,” he mentioned.

This isn’t the primary time Sengottaiya has expressed his discomfort with the celebration. In February, he expressed displeasure over the functioning of the celebration. He expressed discontent over former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa’s pictures lacking from invites to a felicitation ceremony for Edappadi Okay. Palaniswami in Coimbatore.

He additionally accused AIADMK basic secretary Palaniswami of being unwilling to accommodate detractors. “We, six former ministers, met the overall secretary and requested him to take again those that left the celebration. However he didn’t agree. He’s not even prepared to debate celebration tasks with me,” Sengottaiyan mentioned.

It was in July 2024, that Sengottaiyan, together with 5 different ministers, met EPS at his residence and requested him to unite all breakaway leaders. Nevertheless, EPS rejected the proposal. Sengottaiyan referred to how Jayalalithaa had as soon as eliminated EPS from celebration positions in 2009.

He additionally expressed concern over how the celebration has been fragmented after the demise of former chief minister and AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa.

“After Amma’s dying, there have been many points contained in the celebration. Twice, alternatives got here to me, however I selected unity. From 2017 onwards, we now have solely seen defeats, from 2019 Lok Sabha polls, 2021 meeting elections, to 2022 and 2024 native physique elections, we now have misplaced all elections. Solely unity can carry victory,” Sengottaiyan mentioned.

After Sengottaiyan spoke to reporters in Erode, breakaway chief O. Panneerselvam additionally met reporters in his native Theni district. He mentioned Sengottaiyan had expressed the views of hundreds of AIADMK celebration staff.

“I additionally want the identical to occur. I’ll pray to god that each one AIADMK leaders are united as soon as once more,” he advised the reporters in Theni.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)

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