In Tamil Nadu, political developments within the opposition AIADMK took a dramatic turn today, as three MLAs belonging to the dissent group led by senior leader S.P. Velumani tendered their resignations from the Assembly and joined the ruling Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam, or TVK.
The resignations were submitted by Maragatham Kumaravel from Maduranthakam, Jeyakumar from Perundurai, and Sathyabama from Dharapuram. Maragatham Kumaravel is a two-time MLA and former Member of Parliament, while Jeyakumar is serving his second term as MLA.
The latest development comes amid continuing factional tensions within the AIADMK. Earlier, party General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had maintained that the AIADMK remained united and that there was no dissent within the party.
However, the faction led by S. P. Velumani had openly declared its support to the present TVK government on the floor of the Assembly, helping strengthen the ruling alliance’s majority.
Before the resignations, the AIADMK had a total strength of 47 MLAs in the Assembly, with 25 legislators aligned with the Velumani camp and 22 backing the Edappadi Palanisamy faction. Following the resignations, the party’s strength has come down to 44, leaving both factions with 22 MLAs each.
Meanwhile, senior AIADMK leaders including C. V. Shanmugam and former Minister M. R. Vijayabhaskar met Assembly Speaker J. C. D. Prabhakar and urged him to take action regarding the whip issued by the rebel group.
The Speaker stated that the matter would be taken up for consideration during the next session of the Assembly scheduled for next month.
