Sixth AIADMK MLA Resigns in TN Assembly: Another Blow to the Party
Sixth AIADMK MLA Resigns in TN Assembly: Another Blow to the Party
Former Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar's resignation from Karur marks the sixth AIADMK MLA to step down since the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections, leaving 7 seats vacant in the assembly. Get the full story!
In a significant development for Tamil Nadu politics, M.R. Vijayabhaskar, a former Minister and AIADMK MLA representing the Karur constituency, officially resigned from the Legislative Assembly on Monday, June 29, 2026. This marks another substantial blow to the party, as Vijayabhaskar is the sixth AIADMK legislator to resign just months after the 2026 Assembly elections.
Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar formally accepted Mr. Vijayabhaskar’s resignation after he submitted it in person. His departure leaves a total of seven seats vacant in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, a situation that could have various implications for the state’s political landscape.
Mr. Vijayabhaskar had secured his Karur seat by a narrow margin of just 1,821 votes in the 2026 polls. His resignation follows those of five other AIADMK MLAs: Maragatham Kumaravel (Maduranthakam), S. Jayakumar (Perundurai), P. Sathyabama (Dharapuram), Esakki Subaya (Ambasamudram), and former Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar (Viralimalai). Notably, four of these former AIADMK members, excluding C. Vijayabaskar, have since defected to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), hinting at a broader trend of shifting loyalties.
Adding to the vacancies, the Tiruchi East seat was also recently vacated by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who chose to retain the Perambur constituency instead. The continuous resignations and party switches underline a period of considerable flux and challenge for the AIADMK as it navigates the post-election political environment in Tamil Nadu.
