Blow to AIADMK: Three MLAs from Shanmugam-Velumani faction resign, join TVK

CHENNAI: Triggering a further churn in AIADMK, three MLAs from C Ve Shanmugam-S P Velumani-led rebel camp submitted their resignations to assembly speaker J C D Prabhakar on Monday, before directly heading to meet PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna at his chamber on the second floor of the secretariat to join Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The trio — Madurantakam (reserved) MLA Maragatham Kumaravel, Dharapuram (reserved) MLA P Sathyabama, and Perundurai MLA S Jayakumar — were welcomed with shawls. They were among the 25 MLAs who had voted in favour of chief minister C Joseph Vijay-led TVK during the trust vote on May 13.

The move attracted strong criticism from former chief ministers M K Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami, who said it was nothing but ‘horse trading’ and a new low in state politics. Opposition parties reacted sharply, accusing TVK of turning the secretariat into a TVK party office to carry out its style of politics. Aadhav Arjuna, however, denied it, saying it was not ‘horse trading’ and that none of the three MLAs had any corruption charges against them. They officially joined the party in the presence of party general secretary N Anand.

AIADMK sources said the entire episode of the three resigning and joining TVK was orchestrated by the party’s chief coordinator and senior minister K A Sengottaiyan along with his cabinet colleague Aadhav Arjuna.

“There is more to follow,” sources added, hinting that more MLAs and AIADMK functionaries from the rebel camp might follow suit. The three MLAs have reportedly been guaranteed tickets to contest from their respective constituencies under TVK’s ‘whistle’ symbol in the by-elections, necessitated by their resignations, within 21 days of the election results.

The sequence of events unfolded around 2.30pm on Monday when Maragatham Kumaravel and the other MLAs discreetly reached the secretariat and went to the speaker’s chamber on the ground floor. They submitted their resignation letters and urged the speaker to take appropriate action. From there, they went to Aadhav Arjuna’s chamber on the second floor at 2.47pm. He was heard saying, “TVK is like a family. We all sail together. Party president (Vijay) is our pillar (of strength).”

While the trio remained in Aadhav Arjuna’s chamber, the speaker initiated the resignation process based on their representation. Meanwhile, TVK acted swiftly as membership cards for the three were generated and handed over. Interestingly, they received their membership cards before the speaker had even announced the formal acceptance of their resignations.

Prabhakar told reporters that he accepted the resignation of the three MLAs as per TN assembly rules. “The resigning MLAs need not state the reason for their resignation. The resignation was accepted according to section 21 of TN assembly rules,” he said.

Following this, the three accompanied Aadhav Arjuna to the CM’s chamber on the first floor around 4.20pm. After a nearly 20-minute meeting with Vijay, they returned with Aadhav Arjuna to the latter’s chamber. By 5.30pm, Maragatham along with her two colleagues, headed to the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur.

“We were unable to fulfill the needs and demands of our constituents when we were in opposition (2021-2026). So, we took the decision to resign from our MLA posts in the best interest of people of our constituencies. This is our independent decision. It is more about self-respect, and there is no selfishness in our decision,” Maragatham told reporters after meeting TVK general secretary and minister Anand. She equated CM Vijay’s 15-day tenure to ‘Amma’s (former AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa) governance’, for his announcements on women-centric schemes and revival of ‘Amma Unavagam’ (Amma canteens). “The party leadership will decide on it,” she said when asked if they would contest in their respective constituencies.

Maragatham, however, declined to comment on why the three had gone to Aadhav Arjuna’s chamber before their resignations were formally accepted by the speaker.