The political crisis within the AIADMK intensified on Monday after three party MLAs — Maragatham Kumaravel, Sathyabama, and Jayakumar — resigned from the Tamil Nadu Assembly and met TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna in Chennai.
Assembly Speaker JCD Prabakaran received their resignation letters and began reviewing them. Once accepted, bypolls will be held in Madurantakam, Dharapuram, and Perundurai, reducing AIADMK’s strength from 47 to 44 seats.
The resignations follow the party’s recent electoral defeat and growing internal rift. Sources said the three legislators expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership and decided to align with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Chief Minister Vijay.
The split widened after the floor test earlier this month, when 25 AIADMK MLAs led by CV Shanmugam voted in favour of TVK. The test turned into a showdown between factions loyal to General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and Shanmugam. Vijay’s TVK secured 144 votes, comfortably passing the test.
Senior leader S Semmalai also quit the party last week, citing “immense mental anguish” over recent developments. His exit and the latest resignations have deepened the crisis, leaving AIADMK struggling to retain unity and relevance in Tamil Nadu’s shifting political landscape.
