COIMBATORE: On a day the Madras High Court vacated a stay against the Election Commission probing the internal disputes of the AIADMK — a ruling seen as a setback to its incumbent chief Edappadi K Palaniswami — cadres and local functionaries met with senior leader KA Sengottaiyan, even as security was enhanced at his residence in Erode following his remarks against the party leadership.

Sengottaiyan, however, denied speculations of him holding any 'consultative meeting' with supporters. “The party functionaries came to invite me to former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran’s 108th birth anniversary public meeting to be held in Anthiyur on Thursday (February 13). No consultative meeting was held,” he told reporters outside his residence in Kullampalayam.

The former minister and Gobichettipalayam MLA said he usually gets more than 100 visitors daily. “Whatever I said three days ago was over the same day. Leave that,” he said.

Sengottaiyan sparked speculation of an internal rift after skipping a recent event to felicitate Edappadi Palaniswami for implementing the Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme.

He also expressed displeasure over missing MGR and Jayalalithaa images at the function. Though he clarified that he did not 'boycott' the felicitation but only 'skipped' it, his outbursts had by then triggered tension in party circles.

Meanwhile, armed police have been deployed in front of Sengottaiyan’s house for security purposes. Two special sub-inspectors (SSI) and two head constables have been posted since Tuesday night.