AIADMK political crisis: Speaker accepts resignation of fourth MLA, latest blow

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Ambasamudram AIADMK MLA Esakki Subaya, further escalating the political turmoil within the opposition party.The Speaker had initially rejected Subaya’s resignation and asked him to submit a handwritten copy.According to news agency PTI, Subaya immediately withdrew the typed letter and submitted a hand-written resignation letter, which was later accepted by the Speaker.With Subaya’s exit, the total number of resignations from the AIADMK camp in two days has increased to four, reducing the party’s strength to 43 MLAs in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The crisis within AIADMK deepens

The latest resignation comes a day after AIADMK MLAs Maragatham Kumaravel, P Satyabhama and S Jayakumar resigned from the Assembly and later joined the ruling Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.According to news agency ANI, 27 AIADMK MLAs are currently supporting the party general secretary. Edappadi K PalaniswamiWhile 16 MLAs are associated with senior leaders SP Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam.Subaya also belongs to the rebel camp and voted in favor of the TVK government during the May 13 confidence motion.He is also expected to join the ruling party.

AIADMK urges Speaker to reject resignation

Earlier, senior AIADMK leaders met Speaker Prabhakar and filed a petition urging him not to accept the resignations of the rebel MLAs, arguing that anti-defection proceedings were already pending against them.AIADMK leader IS Inabadurai said the resignations violated the anti-defection law. “The speaker should not accept the resignation as it is against the anti-defection law,” he told reporters.The AIADMK had earlier sought disqualification of 25 rebel MLAs for allegedly disobeying Palaniswami’s instructions and supporting the TVK government during the floor test.AIADMK leader Thalavai N Sundaram warned that the party would move court if the Speaker failed to properly investigate the resignations. He said, “If no solution is found from the Speaker, we will go to court.”Responding to the criticism, Speaker Prabhakar said he was working strictly within the legal framework. “My job is to see if the letters are appropriate and to work within the legal framework to get it accepted,” he said.

The issue of ‘horse-trading’ has intensified

The resignations have led to allegations of “horse-trading” on both AIADMK and DMK.On Monday, DMK chief MK Stalin accused the ruling TVK of orchestrating the defections at “horse speed”, while Palaniswami termed the developments as a “pre-planned conspiracy”.Congress MP S Jothimani criticized the developments and said the Congress could not support “horse-trading” in Tamil Nadu while opposing it elsewhere.The number of vacant assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu has now increased to five, including Tiruchirappalli East, which was earlier vacant after Vijay won by two seats. By-elections are expected to be held in all the vacant constituencies.