AIADMK Suffers Fresh Blow as 3 MLAs Join Vijay’s TVK
Resignations deepen crisis in AIADMK amid rebellion over support to Vijay-led government
- Three AIADMK MLAs resign and join Vijay’s TVK
- AIADMK alleges “horse-trading” behind resignations
- Speaker accepts resignations amid anti-defection row
- TVK moves closer to majority mark in Assembly
GG News Bureau
Chennai, 25th May: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam suffered another major setback on Monday as three of its MLAs resigned from the Assembly and joined Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
The legislators — Aragatham Kumaravel, Jayakumar and Sathyabhama — were reportedly considered close to senior AIADMK leader S P Velumani’s camp.
Sources said the MLAs first met Tamil Nadu minister Aadhav Arjuna, regarded as a close aide of Vijay, before proceeding to meet Assembly Speaker J. C. D. Prabhakar and submitting their resignations.
The Speaker later accepted the resignations.
The development has intensified the political crisis within the AIADMK, which is already grappling with internal divisions after the recent Assembly election defeat and disagreements over supporting the TVK government during the trust vote.
Reacting sharply, the AIADMK accused the ruling party of “horse-trading” and termed the resignations a “planned move”.
The party pointed out that the MLAs were accompanied by Aadhav Arjuna even before formally resigning from the Assembly.
R. S. Bharathi of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam commented on the development, saying “Aaya Ram Gaya Ram has started in Tamil Nadu.”
The rebellion within AIADMK reportedly began after a section of party MLAs favoured extending support to Vijay’s TVK during the confidence vote, a move opposed by AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Eventually, 24 rebel AIADMK legislators voted in favour of the TVK government during the trust vote.
The AIADMK had subsequently approached the Speaker seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs under the anti-defection law.
On Monday, Speaker JCD Prabhakar defended his decision to accept the resignations and said the letters submitted by the MLAs were in proper order.
Addressing questions over delay in deciding the anti-defection petitions, the Speaker said both factions claimed legitimacy regarding the party whip and assured that his ruling would be fair.
“There is also criticism that the resigned AIADMK MLAs met Aadhav and Vijay at the Secretariat, using government premises for political purposes,” opposition leaders alleged, though the TVK has not officially responded.
With the latest developments, the TVK appears to be inching closer to the majority mark in the Assembly.
Excluding the Speaker, the TVK currently has 107 MLAs and requires 11 more to secure a simple majority independently.
Its allies — the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League — together contribute nine legislators, while CPI and CPM are extending outside support.
Political observers believe the latest political manoeuvring indicates TVK’s attempt to reduce dependence on external support and consolidate a stable majority.
