Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Fiery Panneerselvam-Sengottaiyan Clash Over Alliance Shifts in Tamil Nadu Assembly
In the city of Chennai, important leaders meet in a big building called the Tamil Nadu Assembly to make decisions for the state of Tamil Nadu.
This week, a former top leader named O Panneerselvam said the new government had not kept the promises it made before the election.
He said the government promised to give women extra money every month.
He also said it promised to give people six free cooking gas cylinders each year.
The government's leaders answered that they still have five years to keep their promises.
Then the argument became about leaders switching teams, which are called parties.
Some members even argued about photographs of old leaders that one minister keeps in his pocket.
Panneerselvam said the old leaders are still in his heart and that he keeps another leader's photograph out of gratitude.
The Speaker, who runs the meeting, asked everyone to calm down and removed some unkind words from the official record.
Former chief minister O Panneerselvam alleged in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that the TVK government failed to honour key electoral promises, including an enhanced monthly financial grant for women and six free LPG cylinders annually.
Leader of the House K A Sengottaiyan rejected the charges, saying the government has a five-year mandate to fulfil its commitments and that the public appreciates its performance.
The debate turned personal as members traded barbs over changing political alliances, with Panneerselvam having joined the DMK and Sengottaiyan switching from the AIADMK to the TVK.
Ministers A Rajmohan and Aadhav Arjuna praised Sengottaiyan for still carrying a photograph of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, while suggesting Panneerselvam had changed the photo closest to his heart.
Panneerselvam defended his allegiance to the Dravidian movement and said he carries M K Stalin's photo out of gratitude; the Speaker intervened and expunged certain remarks from the official record.
- Who
- Former chief minister O Panneerselvam, Leader of the House K A Sengottaiyan, ministers A Rajmohan and Aadhav Arjuna, and the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly
- What
- A heated debate over unfulfilled electoral promises that escalated into a personal confrontation over shifting political alliances and loyalties
- When
- Tuesday
- Where
- Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chennai
- Why
- Panneerselvam alleged the TVK government failed to honour key poll promises, including the enhanced monthly financial grant for women and six free LPG cylinders annually
Opposition (O Panneerselvam)
Treasury benches (K A Sengottaiyan and TVK government)
Fulfilment of election promises
Opposition (O Panneerselvam)
The TVK government failed to honour key manifesto promises such as the enhanced monthly financial grant for women and six free LPG cylinders, and public sentiment has turned against the administration.
Treasury benches (K A Sengottaiyan and TVK government)
The government has a five-year mandate to fulfil its commitments, and it is strange to label the budget a disappointment when the general public is actively appreciating the government's performance.
Political loyalty and alliance shifts
Opposition (O Panneerselvam)
Panneerselvam remains loyal to the Dravidian movement, carries leaders like Periyar, Anna, Karunanidhi, MGR and Jayalalithaa in his heart, and keeps M K Stalin's photo out of gratitude rather than as a show.
Treasury benches (K A Sengottaiyan and TVK government)
Switching alliance does not mean singing paeans for a new leader; Panneerselvam changed not only his place but also the photo closest to his heart, and he served as chief minister three times under Jayalalithaa's leadership.
- Event
- Heated exchange in Tamil Nadu Assembly over alliance shifts and poll promises
- Allegation
- TVK government failed to implement the enhanced monthly women's grant and six free LPG cylinders annually
- Government
- TVK, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay
- Opposition voice
- O Panneerselvam, former chief minister, now with the DMK
- Government response
- Five-year mandate to fulfil commitments; budget appreciated by the public
- Speaker's action
- Expunged certain remarks from the official record and appealed for order
- Location
- Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Government tenure
- In office for only three months at the time of the debate
