CHENNAI: In a bold move to strengthen TVK’s presence in western Tamil Nadu, senior leader and chief coordinator KA Sengottayan announced on Wednesday that he will file his nomination for the Gobi Chettipalayam assembly constituency on February 6 for the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.
The declaration came right after he inaugurated the party’s new office in Vellankovil near Gobi Chettipalayam. Sengottayan engaged with local workers and officials, outlining the party’s expansion plans.
‘TVK is steadily building its organizational base across the state, gearing up aggressively for the 2026 polls,’ he asserted. This step is seen as a strategic push to consolidate support in the region’s rural and semi-urban pockets.
Dismissing rumors of TVK workers joining an AIADMK event in Rasipuram, Sengottayan clarified that those holding TVK flags were actually AIADMK members. ‘This is a deliberate misrepresentation,’ he said, emphasizing the party’s organic growth driven by public backing, not defections.
Addressing criticism over TVK founder Vijay’s dance performance at the party’s third anniversary, Sengottayan defended it as a spontaneous response to supporters’ requests during a devotional song. ‘Why the double standards for other leaders’ cultural engagements?’ he questioned.
He reaffirmed unwavering support for Vijay and hinted at an upcoming statewide outreach tour. On AIADMK leader Dindigul Srinivasan’s cash-for-support allegations against Vijay, Sengottayan called them baseless, demanding concrete proof.
Sengottayan remained coy on alliance talks, terming the silence a tactical choice. Confident of TVK emerging as a kingmaker in 2026, he brushed off Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s remark that TVK won’t dent BJP’s vote share, saying ‘election results will speak.’
This candidacy signals TVK’s intent to challenge the duopoly of DMK and AIADMK, potentially reshaping Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.