3 AIADMK MLAs resign, switch to Vijay's TVK in fresh setback for EPS

In a fresh setback to the AIADMK, which has been grappling with internal turmoil following the recent poll debacle, three of its MLAs resigned from the Tamil Nadu Assembly and subsequently joined the TVK led by Chief Minister Vijay on Monday.

The MLAs -- Maragatham Kumaravel, Jayakumar and Sathyabama -- submitted their resignations to Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar, who accepted the resignations.

The development comes two weeks after 30 AIADMK MLAs, led by senior party leader CV Shanmugam, extended support to Vijay’s TVK government. The three legislators who now resigned from the Edappadi Palaniswami-led party were part of this rebel faction.

Kumaravel had won from the Maduranthakam constituency, Sathyabama from Dharapuram, and Jayakumar from Perundurai on AIADMK tickets. Dharapuram and Perundurai are part of AIADMK’s traditional stronghold in the Kongu region of western Tamil Nadu, while Maduranthakam is located near Chennai.

Soon after submitting their resignations, the MLAs met TVK Minister Aadhav Arjuna at his chamber.

The three MLAs were among the 25 legislators who recently switched their loyalties to Vijay and voted in support of the TVK government during the May 13 floor test, defying the party whip.

Five among the AIADMK rebels had shifted their allegiance back to party chief Edappadi Palaniswami. With this, the number of MLAs backing Palaniswami in the Assembly has risen to 27. Those who returned to the Palaniswami camp include SM Sukumar from Arcot.

With the resignation of three MLAs and the return of five legislators to the Palaniswami camp, the strength of the rebel faction has now come down to 17 from 25.

The AIADMK won a total of 47 seats in the recently held Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, in which Vijay’s TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats, falling short of a majority. TVK later formed the government with the support of Congress, IUML, VCK and the Left parties, while the AIADMK rebels subsequently extended their backing to the ruling dispensation.

However, in a twist within the rebel camp, senior leader SP Velumani on Friday denied having any intention to split the party and said Edappadi Palaniswami remained their leader. He added that the party should work towards restoring the “Amma rule” associated with former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Velumani also said neither he nor Shanmugam had ever expressed interest in securing positions in the newly formed government. TVK did not offer any Cabinet berth to rebel AIADMK legislators during Vijay’s recent ministry expansion.