The AIADMK faced another blow as Karur MLA and former Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabaskar stepped down from the Tamil Nadu Assembly, joining a string of opposition lawmakers leaving the party post the 2026 Assembly polls. Vijayabaskar handed his resignation to Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, officially ending his House membership.
Sources suggest Vijayabaskar is likely to align with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) soon, although no official confirmation has been made. His exit comes amidst ongoing political shifts in Tamil Nadu following the fragmented mandate of the 2026 elections.
After the polls, where the TVK secured 108 seats but fell short of a majority, it formed a coalition government with its allies. The election dynamics saw the DMK emerge as the main Opposition, relegating the AIADMK to third place. The AIADMK faced internal turmoil post-election, with newly elected MLAs housed in a Puducherry resort amid defection fears.
Notably, senior leaders like S.P. Velumani, C.V. Shanmugam, and Vijayabaskar operated as a distinct faction within the AIADMK. While Velumani’s group reconciled with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Shanmugam and Vijayabaskar delayed meeting party leadership, sparking speculation about their political paths.
Several AIADMK legislators subsequently resigned from the Assembly, joining the TVK, including Maragatham Kumaravel, Jayakumar, Sathyabama, and Isakki Subbiah. With Vijayabaskar’s exit, the AIADMK loses another key figure, accentuating the party’s ongoing political flux.
Vijayabaskar’s anticipated shift to the ruling TVK is poised to bolster the government’s standing in the Assembly, while presenting fresh organizational hurdles for the AIADMK leadership.
