In a notable turn of events, several senior members, including former ministers Natham R Viswanathan and P Thangamani, from the rebel faction visited AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami’s residence. The reason for their meeting was unclear, prompting speculation about a potential reconciliation between the two groups.
Another MLA from the rebel faction, Balakrishna Reddy, has returned to Palaniswami’s camp.
On Tuesday, Esakki Subaya, MLA from Ambasamudram, met Speaker JCD Prabhakar and submitted his resignation letter shortly after the Palaniswami-led faction requested him not to accept the resignations of three AIADMK legislators who had stepped down on May 25.
Prabhakar later announced that Subaya’s resignation had been accepted.
Following this, Subaya joined the TVK at the party headquarters in Panayur, where he was welcomed by TVK General Secretary and State Minister N Anand, who presented him with a shawl. Subaya was also given a TVK membership card.
Previously, the Palaniswami faction cited alleged legal and procedural irregularities behind the resignations of the three MLAs and urged the Speaker not to accept them.
The party asserted that the three MLAs joined the ruling TVK before their resignations were officially recorded.
Subaya is the fourth MLA from the rebel Shanmugam-Velumani camp to resign, stating that he did so for the benefit of his constituents.
When asked if he would join TVK, he replied, “It’s not wrong to meet Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.” “I will meet him if given the opportunity,” Subaya informed reporters.
Amid these developments, Congress MP S Jothimani expressed her concerns over “horse-trading” in Tamil Nadu, asserting that her party should not endorse such actions by the ruling TVK, as the national party has faced similar issues.
TVK leader and Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan dismissed the allegations of horse-trading.
CPI (M), which has supported the TVK government, and VCK, a component of the Vijay-led ministry, expressed their disapproval of the resignations and subsequent joinings of AIADMK MLAs, labeling it unhealthy for politics.
CPI (M) State Secretary P Shanmugam stated that while the MLAs resigned and joined TVK voluntarily, “we find it hard to believe it’s a move without expecting something in return.” VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan commented that “we hope the TVK leadership avoids actions that could lead to criticism” on this matter.
Speaker Prabhakar maintained that he was executing his duties within the legal framework and the authority granted to him. He mentioned he accepts resignation letters only if they conform to the prescribed format. “Beyond that, I have nothing further to add.” Earlier, senior AIADMK leaders, ‘whip’ Agri SS Krishnamurthy and Rajya Sabha MP IS Inbadurai, met with Speaker Prabhakar, delivering a representation urging him not to accept the resignations of Maragatham Kumaravel, P Sathyabama, and S Jayakumar, who had submitted their resignations on Monday and subsequently joined TVK.
Krishnamurthy insisted that since their previous plea for disqualification of 25 MLAs for defying the party’s directive during the May 13 floor test was pending, the Speaker should not accept the resignations from these legislators.
“We sought action against 25 AIADMK MLAs under the anti-defection law for rebelling against Palaniswami’s directive on the confidence vote. The Speaker indicated that it was under his consideration. Fearing repercussions under the anti-defection law, these three resigned. Accepting their resignations while the previous plea is pending would violate the rules. We submitted a plea (on Tuesday) on behalf of the AIADMK, urging him not to accept their resignations,” he stated to reporters.
Within five minutes of submitting their resignations, he claimed, a “laminated TVK membership card was issued” to the three individuals right at the Secretariat.
“People are questioning whether this is the Secretariat or the TVK headquarters. If this government facilitates such resignations, it will lead to increased horse-trading; the administration should act to prevent this,” he stated.
Chief Minister Vijay had vowed to ensure transparent governance. “To establish his rule through underhanded means, this government is engaging in horse-trading at an alarming rate,” the senior leader alleged.
Inbadurai, who also serves as the AIADMK Advocates’ Wing Secretary, noted that their faction had called for action against the rebel MLAs under the anti-defection law, emphasizing that this request is still pending. “The legal context prohibits him (Speaker) from accepting their resignations,” he asserted.
“They met with a TVK minister before their resignations were reported…and merely staged a drama of formally joining (later that evening). Furthermore, we have yet to receive the notification of their resignation (in a government gazette). Thus, we’ve requested that their resignations remain unaccepted,” he explained.
Also Read | AIADMK loses three MLAs to TVK as Tamil Nadu politics heats up over ‘horse-trading’ charges
MLAs can’t resign when action is requested against them under the anti-defection law. “You can’t just evade through the back door,” he added. The party will approach the court if the Speaker takes no action, stated senior AIADMK leader and Kanniyakumari MLA Thalavai N Sundaram.
Kumaravel, Sathyabama, and Jayakumar resigned as MLAs on Monday and later aligned with TVK, drawing sharp criticism from traditional adversaries DMK and AIADMK, who labeled it “horse-trading.” A TVK source indicated that Kumaravel, Sathyabama, and Jayakumar are likely to receive candidacy from the party for the upcoming byelections under its whistle symbol.
Following these developments, the Shanmugam-Velumani faction convened a meeting.
Meanwhile, Speaker Prabhakar stated he was acting within the authority granted to him. “My role is to examine whether the (resignation) letters are appropriate and to operate within the legal limits in accepting them. I am adhering to the House rules,” he responded to questions from reporters.
The AIADMK forwarded a three-page letter, which he must scrutinize carefully. “I have no personal biases and will operate in accordance with the regulations,” he concluded.
Congress MP Jothimani criticized the state’s “horse-trading” and noted that the party cannot have differing standards for Tamil Nadu versus other states.
Actions taken by TVK should aim to fortify democracy rather than compromise it; it is the Congress party’s duty to voice differing opinions in such scenarios.
“It would be wrong for anyone from Congress to condone horse-trading. The BJP’s initial tactic to undermine democracy was through horse-trading,” which has been utilized against elected party governments, she asserted.
“Congress cannot adopt a dual position of backing horse-trading in Tamil Nadu while opposing it elsewhere. If Congress acts as a force that weakens democracy, it would represent a historic betrayal of Gandhi, Nehru, and their ideals,” she added.
She further emphasized party leader Rahul Gandhi’s “uncompromising” dedication to principles.
The Congress, which withdrew from the DMK-led alliance following the April 23 polls to support the initial TVK government, is currently part of the Vijay-led Cabinet with two ministers.
DMK leader R S Bharathi also critiqued the TVK government, asserting that there appears to be no distinction between the Secretariat and the party office for them.
Meanwhile, Minister Sengottaiyan denied any attempts at “horse-trading” in the state.
“The state is aware of who engaged in horse-trading, who aspired to become chief minister with DMK’s aid,” he remarked, in reference to Palaniswami, following reports suggesting an alliance between DMK and AIADMK to counter the TVK government after the elections.
When asked if the resigned AIADMK MLAs who joined TVK would be nominated from the same constituencies, he replied, “time will reveal.”
