AIADMK slipped to third place in Tamil Nadu elections because of its ‘Kumbhakarna sleep’: Minister Sengottaiyan

K.A. Sengottaiyan. File | Photo Credit: S. Siva Saravanan

Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K.A. Sengottaiyan on Friday (November 13, 2026) said the AIADMK had slipped to the third position because of its “Kumbhakarna sleep”, hitting back at party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for criticising the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government over law and order.

Mr. Sengottaiyan was speaking to reporters at Gobichettipalayam after distributing cakes to students at the Government Higher Secondary School in Bungalowpudur ahead of Children’s Day.

Responding to Mr. Palaniswami’s criticism that the TVK government was sleeping like Kumbhakarna and that law and order had deteriorated in the State, Mr. Sengottaiyan said those criticising the government could continue to do so. Despite resentment in some sections and allegations against the government, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay was implementing several schemes to provide good governance, he said.

Reacting to Mr. Palaniswami’s assertion that the AIADMK was ready to contest and win the next election, Mr. Sengottaiyan said he should understand the people’s verdict. The AIADMK, which had won the Dharapuram Assembly constituency by a margin of 81,000 votes in the general election, had subsequently lost the byelection by a margin of 42,000 votes in the bypoll, he pointed out. “It was because they slept like Kumbhakarna that they have slipped to the third position,” he said, referring to the AIADMK. He said the people had chosen Mr. Vijay to lead the State and asserted that the TVK leader would win future elections and become Chief Minister.

Clarifying his earlier remarks on AIADMK members potentially joining the TVK, Mr. Sengottaiyan said he had only stated that some people from the AIADMK would join the party and had never said MLAs would switch sides.

Published - November 13, 2026 03:41 pm IST