3 AIADMK MLAs resign, join ruling TVK in Tamil Nadu
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Chennai: In a significant political development that could reshape Tamil Nadu’s post-election landscape, three AIADMK MLAs — Maragatham Kumaravel, Sathyabama and Jayakumar — resigned from the Assembly on Monday and later joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The resignations have intensified speculation over further defections and the possibility of additional Assembly by-elections in the state.
The three legislators, considered close to the AIADMK faction led by former ministers C. V. Shanmugam and S. P. Velumani, submitted their resignation letters to Assembly Speaker J. C. D. Prabhakar.
Soon after tendering their resignations, the MLAs reportedly met Minister Aadhav Arjuna and formally joined the TVK.
The development comes amid continuing political shifts in Tamil Nadu following the Assembly election results, which have kept the state’s political landscape active and uncertain. The TVK, led by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, had contested 233 constituencies and initially secured 107 seats after Vijay vacated the Tiruchy East constituency.
However, the party fell short of the majority mark of 118 seats required to form the government and later sought support from parties in the DMK-led alliance. Following negotiations, the Indian National Congress aligned with the TVK and was accommodated in the government with two ministerial berths. Other parties, including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), also became part of the TVK-led government, while the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) extended unconditional support from outside the government.
At the same time, nearly 25 AIADMK MLAs aligned with the Velumani-Shanmugam faction had adopted a favourable stance towards the TVK government, triggering speculation about a possible split within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. However, the faction was eventually not accommodated in the cabinet.
Reports later suggested that reconciliation efforts had begun between the faction and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
With Vijay having already vacated the Tiruchy East seat, the resignations of the three MLAs are expected to raise the number of vacant Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu to four.
Political observers are now closely watching whether more MLAs from the Velumani-Shanmugam camp may follow a similar path in the coming days.
With IANS inputs
