AIADMK’s decision to allot the Madathukulam Assembly constituency to alliance partner AMMK has triggered fresh speculation within the party, after sitting MLA and Tiruppur Suburban East district secretary Mahendran was denied a ticket.
According to reports, the development is being linked to former minister Sengottaiyan, who recently joined actor Vijay’s newly launched TVK after a fallout with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Palaniswami had also removed several leaders, including a former MP, who were said to be in touch with Sengottaiyan.
AIADMK released its second phase list of candidates a day earlier, in which several leaders—described as Sengottaiyan’s supporters who later aligned with Palaniswami—were reportedly given tickets again. In contrast, Mahendran’s exclusion and the constituency’s transfer to AMMK surprised many.
Party sources said a family connection may have influenced the decision, citing the June 2024 marriage between Sengottaiyan’s grandson Mithilesh and Mahendran’s daughter Vidhu Pratiksha. They alleged that Palaniswami denied Mahendran a ticket to create personal pressure on Sengottaiyan, and that the seat was handed to AMMK even though it had not sought it.
The sources further claimed the move reflects a hardline approach to sidelining those linked to leaders who have been removed from the party.
