Three AIADMK MLAs who were part of the S.P. Velumani faction met Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar at the Secretariat in Chennai on Monday (May 25, 2026) and submitted their resignation letters. The Speaker later announced that their resignations have been accepted.

Maragatham Kumaravel, the MLA for Madurantakam constituency (Chengalpattu district), S. Jayakumar, the MLA for Perundurai constituency (Erode district), and P. Sathyabama, the MLA for Dharapuram constituency (Tiruppur district), met Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar in the afternoon and handed over their resignation letters.

Soon after, they met Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna at the Secretariat and joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

With this, the AIADMK’s strength in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has dropped to 44.

Resignation in ground floor, TVK membership in first floor: Edappadi Palaniswami

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami condemned what he termed as “vulgar politics” and “horse trading” introduced in Tamil Nadu by the ruling TVK. Any attempt to defeat and replace the AIADMK would remain a dream, he said.

A cinema celebrity, who claimed to bring about purity in politics, has resorted to “underhand dealings” to save his government, which is a matter of “shame”, Mr. Palaniswami said without naming anyone. The people of Tamil Nadu are amused at the efforts of the “minority government” to stay in power, he added.

The act of the resignation of three MLAs in the ground floor of the Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex and within a few minutes receiving party membership from a TVK Minister in the first floor, only exposed that it was a pre-meditated drama and attempts of “horse trading.”

“The underhanded dealings of the TVK government is a new approach in Tamil Nadu politics. The AIADMK has been a great movement serving the people bearing several acts of betrayal and back-stabbing. Be it the MLAs who support the government or those have resigned now, they should not forget that they contested against the symbol of the cinema celebrity,” Mr. Palaniswami pointed out.

The AIADMK leader further said any act of betrayal hoping to defeat or replace the party would only remain a dream. Mr. Palaniswami went on to add that the people of Tamil Nadu would teach a befitting lesson to those who attempt to piggyback on others.

A party release said the five AIADMK MLAs assured that they would “accept the instructions and advice of Mr. Palaniswami” and discharge their duties both as legislators and party functionaries.

‘No selfish agenda’

The three AIADMK MLAs who resigned from the Assembly said they took the decision in the “interest of the people in our constituencies” and it was not motivated by any “selfish agenda”.

Addressing the media, Ms. Kumaravel said she and the others were unable to do much for their constituencies over the past five years because of the DMK government. “We raised several demands in the Assembly, but were unable to fulfil even 10% of the promises made to the people. Even in this election, people voted for me reposing faith in me. They expected us to fulfil their demands,” she said.

Asked whether they would contest the bypolls necessitated by their resignations, Ms. Kumaravel said they had joined the TVK and it was for the party leadership to take a decision.

She said, like late Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister Vijay had accorded priority to the safety of women and had decided to improve the services of Amma Unavagam. “We hope that he will provide good governance,” she said.

Expulsion

Mr. Palaniswami removed party functionary Thaiyur S. Kumaravel from all positions including the party’s primary membership. The general secretary said the actions of Mr. Kumaravel were not in line with the party’s discipline and further brought disrepute to the party.

AMMK’s criticism

Meanwhile, AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran referred to the charges of “horse trading” he made earlier and contended that his charges were turning out to be true.