Cadres of various parties join DMK at Sengipatti public meeting

In a political mobilisation ahead of the Assembly elections, around 10,000 people from various political parties formally joined the DMK at a public meeting held at Sengipatti in Thanjavur district on Monday (January 26, 2026).

Addressing the gathering, former Minister R. Vaithilingam who recently joined the DMK said the leadership of M.K. Stalin had shown a clear development path not only for Tamil Nadu but also for the entire country through welfare schemes that reached all sections of society. “There may be sections that harbour an aversion towards Dravidian ideology, but we will continue to work to safeguard and strengthen Dravidam,” he said.

DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who presided over the event, praised Mr. Vaithialingam for organising what he described as a “grand and disciplined programme”.

DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister with R. Vaithilingam at Sengipatti in Thanjavur district on January 26, 2026
| Photo Credit:
R. Vengadesh

Mr. Stalin said AIADMK has broken into pieces after the passing of former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran (December 1987) and Jayalalithaa (December 2016). Mr. Vaithilingam had worked hard with commitment and remained loyal to them but the fragmentation of the AIADMK had caused him deep anguish. “Only now do I realise he (Vaithilingam) has decided he cannot function without self-respect,” he said.

He called upon party cadres to work towards a decisive mandate, invoking the slogan of winning 200 Assembly seats and creating history.

Several former functionaries of the AIADMK, including those aligned with the O. Panneerselvam faction, from Tiruchi, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Perambalur and Ariyalur districts joined the DMK at the event.

State Ministers K.N. Nehru and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, MP Kanimozhi, and DMK organising secretary R.S. Bharathi were among the participants.