AIADMK accuses TVK govt of horse-trading as 25 MLAs defy party whip
Synopsis
Twenty-five AIADMK legislators defied a party whip and voted for the TVK government — and now the opposition says resignations of three of those MLAs were accepted even as disqualification proceedings were pending. The AIADMK's 'horse-trading at horse speed' charge, and its claim that TVK identity cards were issued within minutes of resignations, signals a full-blown constitutional and political crisis in Tamil Nadu's Assembly.
Key Takeaways
AIADMK MLA Agri Krishnamurthy met Assembly Speaker J.C.D.
Prabhakar on 26 May to raise defection concerns.
25 AIADMK MLAs defied a party whip and voted in favour of the TVK government during a confidence motion.
The AIADMK has filed an anti-defection petition with the Speaker; no final decision has been taken yet.
Resignations of three MLAs were reportedly accepted while disqualification proceedings were still pending — a move the AIADMK calls procedurally improper.
Krishnamurthy alleged defecting legislators were issued TVK identity cards within minutes of submitting resignations.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Tuesday, 26 May escalated its confrontation with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu, accusing it of orchestrating political defections and engaging in brazen 'horse-trading' to consolidate its Assembly majority. The charge came after 25 AIADMK legislators defied a party directive and voted in favour of the ruling dispensation during a confidence motion.
What Happened in the Assembly
AIADMK MLA Agri Krishnamurthy, representing the faction led by party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), met Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar at the Secretariat in Chennai and raised the party's concerns directly. He confirmed that the AIADMK leadership had issued an unambiguous whip to all its legislators to vote against the TVK government during the confidence motion. Despite that directive, 25 MLAs crossed the floor and supported the ruling party.
Following the vote, the AIADMK filed a petition with the Speaker seeking action against the errant legislators under the anti-defection law. Krishnamurthy said the Speaker informed the party that the petition remains under examination and that no final decision has been taken.
Resignations Amid Pending Disqualification — A Procedural Flashpoint
Krishnamurthy also questioned the acceptance of resignations submitted by three MLAs while disqualification proceedings against them were still pending. The AIADMK had specifically requested the Speaker to withhold processing those resignations until the anti-defection petition was resolved.
He argued that accepting resignations under such circumstances undermines established Assembly norms and sets a dangerous procedural precedent. According to him, the sequence of events — defection, pending disqualification, and then resignation — appears designed to circumvent the anti-defection framework.
Sharp Allegations Against the TVK Government
Krishnamurthy sharpened his attack on the ruling party with pointed language, alleging that 'horse-trading is being carried out at horse speed' and claiming that some legislators who submitted resignations were issued TVK identity cards within minutes. He questioned whether the Secretariat was functioning as the state's administrative headquarters or as an extension of the TVK party office.
He warned that actively encouraging elected representatives to resign and switch allegiance could trigger wider political instability and accelerate defections across Tamil Nadu's legislative landscape.
What the AIADMK Is Demanding
The party has called on the Speaker to resolve the anti-defection petition before processing any resignations from the legislators named in it. Krishnamurthy indicated that the AIADMK views the current handling of proceedings as inconsistent with constitutional norms and democratic practice.
This comes amid broader tensions in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, where the TVK government has been working to shore up its numbers. The Speaker's eventual ruling on both the anti-defection petition and the resignations is expected to set a significant precedent for how floor-crossing is treated in the state Assembly going forward.
Point of View
But the procedural question underneath it is constitutionally serious: can a Speaker accept resignations from legislators against whom an anti-defection petition is actively pending? Courts have repeatedly held that resignation cannot be used as an escape hatch from disqualification, yet the practice persists. Tamil Nadu's current crisis is less about party loyalty and more about whether the anti-defection law has any teeth left. If the Speaker allows resignations to pre-empt disqualification, it effectively renders the Tenth Schedule toothless — a precedent with implications far beyond this Assembly.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AIADMK's horse-trading allegation against the TVK government?
The AIADMK has accused the TVK government of actively encouraging its legislators to defect and switch sides, calling it 'horse-trading.' The party claims 25 of its MLAs defied a party whip during a confidence motion and voted for the ruling TVK government, and that some received TVK identity cards within minutes of resigning.
What is the anti-defection petition filed by the AIADMK?
After 25 AIADMK legislators voted against the party's directive during a confidence motion, the AIADMK filed a petition with the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker seeking their disqualification under the anti-defection law. The Speaker has said the petition is still under examination.
Why is the acceptance of MLA resignations controversial?
The AIADMK contends that resignations of three MLAs were accepted by the Speaker while disqualification proceedings against them were still pending. The party had specifically requested the Speaker not to process those resignations until the anti-defection petition was resolved, arguing that doing so circumvents the constitutional framework.
Who is leading the AIADMK's challenge in this matter?
AIADMK MLA Agri Krishnamurthy, representing the faction led by party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, has been the party's spokesperson on this issue. He met Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar at the Chennai Secretariat on 26 May to press the party's demands.
What happens next in this political dispute?
The Assembly Speaker's ruling on the pending anti-defection petition and the validity of the resignations will be the decisive next step. The outcome is expected to set a significant precedent for how floor-crossing and resignation-during-disqualification proceedings are handled in Tamil Nadu's legislature.
