AIADMK’s Viralimala MLA and former Tamil Nadu Minister C. Vijayabaskar resigned from the Assembly, raising questions about his future plans and impacting the party’s strength in the House. Vijayabaskar’s resignation letter was accepted by Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, confirming his exit.
The move follows internal discord within the AIADMK, stemming from a divide between supporters of party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and a faction led by former minister S.P. Velumani. A group of AIADMK legislators, backing the Velumani camp, had backed the ruling TVK-led coalition, leading to political negotiations and eventual reunification of the rival factions.
Despite efforts to reconcile, disagreements persist among some senior leaders. Vijayabaskar, known for his cryptic social media posts critical of AIADMK leadership, hinted at his decision based on his constituency’s wishes before resigning.
Vijayabaskar’s resignation, the fifth MLA exit from AIADMK post-2026 elections, reduces the party’s strength in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly to 42 MLAs. This departure further challenges the party’s reformation post its lackluster performance in the recent elections.
