In yet another blow to the AIADMK, former Health Minister and Viralimalai MLA Dr. C. Vijayabaskar, on Tuesday (June 16, 2026), submitted his resignation from the MLA post to Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar at the Secretariat in Chennai.

In a statement, the Speaker said he has accepted the resignation of the AIADMK leader. Dr. Vijayabaskar, who has been associated with the AIADMK since his college days. Mr. Vijayabaskar served as the Health Minister between 2013 and 2021 in the Cabinets headed by former Chief Ministers J. Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam, and Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

He was elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly from Pudukkottai in 2001 and from Viralimalai in the 2011, 2016, 2021, and 2026. He is the fifth AIADMK legislator to resign from the Assembly weeks after the Assembly elections in 2026..

Earlier, Maragatham Kumaravel (Maduranthakam), S. Jayakumar (Perundurai), P. Sathyabama (Dharapuram), and Esaki Subaya (Ambasamudram) had resigned their MLA posts and joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Dr. Vijayabaskar was among the 25 rebel MLAs who voted in favour of the TVK government during the vote of confidence for the government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in the Assembly on May 13, contrary to the directions of the party whip.