Three AIADMK MLAs resign, join TVK amid Tamil Nadu defection wave
Synopsis
Three AIADMK MLAs from the Velumani-Shanmugam faction have quit the Assembly and joined the ruling TVK, pushing Tamil Nadu's vacant seat count to four and signalling that the opposition's internal fracture may be far from over.
Key Takeaways
Madurantakam MLA Maragatham Kumaravel , Dharapuram MLA Sathyabama , and Perundurai MLA Jayakumar resigned from the Tamil Nadu Assembly on 25 May .
All three belong to the AIADMK faction aligned with former ministers C.V.
They formally joined the ruling TVK after meeting Minister Aadhav Arjuna .
Tamil Nadu's vacant Assembly seats are now expected to rise to four , increasing the likelihood of by-elections.
Around 25 AIADMK MLAs from the same faction had earlier shown sympathy toward the TVK government but were not given cabinet berths.
Reconciliation talks between the faction and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K.
Palaniswami are reportedly under strain.
Three AIADMK legislators — Madurantakam MLA Maragatham Kumaravel, Dharapuram MLA Sathyabama, and Perundurai MLA Jayakumar — resigned from the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Monday, 25 May and formally joined the ruling TVK, deepening the fracture within the principal opposition party and raising the prospect of further defections.
How the resignations unfolded
The three MLAs submitted their resignation letters to Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar before reportedly meeting TVK Minister Aadhav Arjuna and completing their induction into the ruling party. All three are considered close to the AIADMK faction led by former ministers C.V. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani — a grouping that has maintained an ambiguous relationship with the TVK government since the Assembly election results.
What this means for Tamil Nadu's seat count
With Chief Minister Joseph Vijay having already vacated the Tiruchy East constituency, the three fresh resignations are expected to raise the number of vacant Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu to four. That tally intensifies speculation about a round of Assembly by-elections in the near term, which could further redraw the state's political balance.
The Velumani-Shanmugam faction's shifting stance
Around 25 AIADMK MLAs aligned with the Shanmugam-Velumani camp had earlier adopted a broadly favourable posture toward the TVK government, prompting widespread speculation about a formal split within the AIADMK. However, the faction was ultimately not accommodated in the cabinet. Reports subsequently indicated that reconciliation talks had begun between the group and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, making Monday's defections a significant setback for those efforts.
TVK's coalition arithmetic
The TVK, contesting 233 constituencies, initially secured 107 seats — short of the 118-seat majority threshold. To form the government, it relied on the DMK-led alliance. The Congress aligned with TVK and received two ministerial berths, while the VCK and the IUML joined the coalition government. The CPI and CPI-M extended unconditional outside support. Each fresh defection from the AIADMK, however, incrementally strengthens the TVK's floor strength.
What political observers are watching
Analysts are closely monitoring whether more legislators from the Velumani-Shanmugam camp will follow suit in the coming days. This is the most consequential wave of AIADMK defections since the election results, and its trajectory could determine whether the party's internal reconciliation holds or collapses entirely.
Point of View
And the failure to secure cabinet berths removed the last incentive for restraint. What is striking is the timing: reconciliation talks with Palaniswami were reportedly under way, and these resignations effectively torpedo that process publicly. The deeper question is whether the AIADMK, already diminished at the polls, can survive a sustained bleed of legislators without triggering a formal disqualification or merger proceeding. Tamil Nadu's anti-defection calculus will be worth watching closely.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which three AIADMK MLAs resigned and joined TVK on 25 May?
Madurantakam MLA Maragatham Kumaravel, Dharapuram MLA Sathyabama, and Perundurai MLA Jayakumar resigned from the Tamil Nadu Assembly on 25 May and joined the ruling TVK. All three are associated with the AIADMK faction led by former ministers C.V. Shanmugam and S.P. Velumani.
How many Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu are now vacant?
With the three fresh resignations and Chief Minister Joseph Vijay's earlier vacation of the Tiruchy East seat, the number of vacant Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu is expected to rise to four. This increases the likelihood of by-elections being called in the near term.
Why did these AIADMK MLAs defect to TVK?
The three MLAs are part of the Velumani-Shanmugam faction that had adopted a sympathetic stance toward the TVK government after the election results. The faction was not accommodated in the cabinet, and reports suggest reconciliation efforts with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami were under way — making the defection a significant political statement.
How did TVK form the government despite falling short of a majority?
TVK won 107 of the 233 seats it contested, falling short of the 118-seat majority mark. It subsequently secured support from Congress, which received two ministerial berths, and from VCK and IUML, which joined the coalition. CPI and CPI-M extended unconditional outside support.
Could more AIADMK MLAs follow and trigger further by-elections?
Political observers are closely watching the Velumani-Shanmugam camp, which reportedly has around 25 MLAs sympathetic to the TVK. If more resign, it could prompt additional by-elections and further weaken the AIADMK's position as the principal opposition in Tamil Nadu.
