Sengottaiyan and O. Panneerselvam trade barbs over political switch, leaders’ photographs in shirt pockets

Published 11 August 2026 · politics

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Revenue Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, who had both defected from the AIADMK and joined the DMK and Tamilaga Vettri

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and Revenue Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, who had both defected from the AIADMK and joined the DMK and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), respectively, exchanged light-hearted remarks in the State Assembly over their “change of places” and the photographs of their respective leaders kept in their shirt pockets. Participating in the debate on the Revised and Agriculture Budgets on Tuesday (August 11, 2026), Mr. Panneerselvam said the people of Tamil Nadu were disappointed, as the TVK government had not implemented even its electoral promises as pilot projects.

Sengottaiyan, who is the Revenue Minister, said the government had five years to implement its electoral promises. “You cannot create history in three months. If you have created history, let us know,” Mr. Sengottaiyan told Mr. Panneerselvam. The Minister further said it was strange that Mr. Panneerselvam had found fault with a government that was being praised for its clean administration. “You have changed your place. That does not mean you should pay encomium to the new place,” Mr. Sengottaiyan remarked. Panneerselvam retorted that it was Mr. Sengottaiyan who had first “changed his place.” School Education Minister Rajamohan rose to defend Mr. Sengottaiyan, pointing out that although he had changed his political allegiance, TVK leader and Chief Minister C.

Joseph Vijay had asked him not to change the photograph of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that he kept in his shirt pocket. “It seems Annan (’elder brother’ - Mr. Panneerselvam) has changed both his place and the photograph in his pocket,” he quipped. Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna said Mr. Sengottaiyan continued to keep “Puratchi Thalaivi Amma’s” photograph in his pocket even after changing his political allegiance. “But Tamil Nadu knows whose picture Mr. Panneerselvam is keeping in his pocket,” he said. Panneerselvam responded that he kept in his heart Periyar (E.V. Ramasamy), Anna (C.N. Annadurai), Kalaignar (M.

Karunanidhi), MGR, Jayalalithaa, and M.K. Stalin. When Mr. Sengottaiyan remarked that Mr. Panneerselvam, who had served as Chief Minister of the State three times during Jayalalithaa’s lifetime, should not speak in such a manner, Mr. Panneerselvam said the two had travelled together for years and that he knew Mr. Sengottaiyan’s commitment.