Three AIADMK MLAs quit party, join TVK in fresh blow to opposition’s assembly strength

Tamil Nadu’s political landscape witnessed another dramatic twist as three AIADMK MLAs resigned and joined Vijay’s TVK, increasing speculation over more defections and possible changes in the state’s opposition dynamics.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu politics witnessed fresh turbulence on Monday after three AIADMK legislators resigned from the Assembly and joined the ruling TVK, led by Chief Minister Joseph Vijay. The move is being seen as another setback for the opposition camp and has intensified speculation over further defections in the coming weeks.

The legislators who resigned are Madurantakam MLA Maragatham Kumaravel, Dharapuram MLA Sathyabama and Perundurai MLA Jayakumar. The three submitted their resignation letters to Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar before formally joining TVK in the presence of senior party leaders.

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Vacancies Rise To Four In Tamil Nadu Assembly

With these resignations, the number of vacant Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu has increased to four. Earlier, Chief Minister Joseph Vijay had vacated the Tiruchy East constituency, paving the way for a by-election there as well.

Tamil Nadu’s political landscape witnessed another dramatic twist as three AIADMK MLAs resigned and joined Vijay’s TVK, increasing speculation over more defections and possible changes in the state’s opposition dynamics. #tvkvijay #tamilnadupolitics #AIADMK

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Political observers believe the Election Commission may soon announce bypolls for all four constituencies, which could further intensify political activity in the state.

Internal Divisions Within AIADMK

The three MLAs are believed to be close to the AIADMK faction associated with former ministers C.V. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani. This group had already been viewed as maintaining a softer stand toward the TVK-led government in recent months.

Speculation about a possible split within AIADMK had surfaced earlier after reports suggested that nearly 25 MLAs from the faction were sympathetic toward the ruling alliance. However, reconciliation efforts within the party had also been underway.

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Monday’s resignations have now reignited discussions about whether more legislators could leave the opposition party in the near future.

TVK Government And Political Equations

TVK emerged as the single-largest force in the Tamil Nadu Assembly after the recent elections but initially fell short of the majority mark. The party later formed the government with support from alliance partners, including Congress, VCK and IUML, while Left parties extended outside support.

The latest political development is expected to strengthen TVK’s position further while adding pressure on the opposition ranks.

Political analysts say the defections may significantly reshape Tamil Nadu’s political equations ahead of the next electoral cycle, especially if more lawmakers decide to switch sides.