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Motive behind MLAs’ resignations irrelevant, Tamil Nadu Assembly Secretary tells Madras High Court
India🏛️ Politics5 days ago

Motive behind MLAs’ resignations irrelevant, Tamil Nadu Assembly Secretary tells Madras High Court

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretary, R. Santhi, appeared before the Madras High Court to defend the Speaker's decision to accept the resignations of four AIADMK MLAs. She argued that the law does not require the Speaker to assess the motive behind resignations, and that such resignations must be accepted if deemed genuine and voluntary. This follows two writ petitions filed by AIADMK whip Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy challenging the Speaker's decision. In her counter affidavit, Santhi cited a Supreme Court ruling from 2019 that stated the motive behind resignations is irrelevant. She emphasized that the Speaker accepted the resignations based on handwritten letters submitted in person and that there was no evidence suggesting the resignations were not genuine. Santhi also noted that the Speaker's actions are presumed to be regular and that the law allows for discretion in determining the nature of inquiries.

On June 29, 2026, Esakki Subaya, a former AIADMK MLA, appeared before the Madras High Court to explain his resignation from the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. He stated that his decision to step down was driven by profound disillusionment with the AIADMK leadership. In a detailed counter affidavit, Subaya emphasized that his resignation was entirely voluntary and uncoerced, stemming solely from his personal convictions. He denied any external influence, including pressure, coercion, or financial incentives, from any party or individual.

Subaya's legal response was aimed at countering two writ petitions filed by AIADMK whip Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy. These petitions contested the decision of Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar to accept the resignations of four MLAs, including Subaya, while disqualification proceedings were still ongoing against them. Subaya argued that he was unaware of any internal AIADMK meetings held prior to May 13, 2026, when Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay introduced a motion of confidence. He claimed that he supported the motion alongside 25 other AIADMK MLAs but was later stripped of his party positions despite his long-standing association with AIADMK, including two terms as an MLA and a brief stint as Minister for Law.

According to Subaya, he learned only after the disqualification proceedings began that the AIADMK had allegedly passed a resolution on May 9, 2026, designating Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the legislature party leader and Krishnamurthy as the chief whip. He denied attending or participating in any such meeting and questioned the legitimacy of the resolution, citing the absence of critical details such as venue, agenda, convening authority, or meeting minutes. Subaya further contended that his signature might have been misused to falsely indicate his participation in the meeting, which he believed lacked credible evidence of having occurred.

Additionally, Subaya mentioned receiving only two WhatsApp messages on May 11 and May 12 instructing him to vote against the confidence motion. He stressed that these instructions lacked verifiable proof of originating from the party general secretary via the whip. Following extensive discussions with his supporters over 13 days, Subaya decided to resign from his MLA position on May 26, 2026, and subsequently joined the TVK to continue his political career.

The situation took another turn on the same day, June 29, 2026, when M.R. Vijayabhaskar, another AIADMK MLA and former minister, also resigned from the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Vijayabhaskar, representing the Karur constituency, submitted his resignation directly to Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, who accepted it. This marked the sixth resignation since the recent assembly elections, leaving seven seats vacant in the 234-member legislative body.

Previously, five other AIADMK MLAs—Maragatham Kumaravel, S. Jayakumar, P. Sathyabama, Esakki Subaya, and former Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar—had already resigned. Of these, four, excluding Vijayabhaskar, had joined the ruling TVK party. Additionally, the Tiruchi East seat was vacated by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who retained the Perambur constituency.

Vijayabhaskar had secured victory in the Karur constituency during the 2026 elections with a narrow margin of 1,821 votes. His resignation adds to the growing concerns within the AIADMK about internal dissent and potential instability. With multiple resignations occurring in quick succession, the party faces increasing scrutiny regarding its internal dynamics and governance practices.

The resignations of both Subaya and Vijayabhaskar highlight broader issues within the AIADMK, particularly concerning leadership decisions and the handling of internal conflicts. As the party continues to grapple with these challenges, the focus will likely shift towards addressing the underlying causes of these resignations and ensuring stability within the legislative framework. The implications of these developments remain significant, especially considering the current political landscape in Tamil Nadu.

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4 reports

The Hindu logoThe HinduIndependentCenter5 days ago
Resigned Assembly membership due to disillusionment with AIADMK leadership: Esakki Subaya tells Madras High Court

A former AIADMK MLA, Esakki Subaya, testified before the Madras High Court that his resignation from the Legislative Assembly was voluntary and driven by disillusionment with the party leadership. He denied participating in a meeting where the AIADMK allegedly elected new leaders, claiming he was unaware of the event and that his signature was used without his consent to falsely establish consensus. His testimony comes amid legal challenges to his resignation, which occurred while disqualification proceedings were ongoing. Subaya alleges procedural irregularities and lack of transparency in the party's internal decisions.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Subaya's claims without overtly endorsing or criticizing them, maintaining a balanced tone. It reports on legal proceedings and allegations of procedural impropriety without taking a clear ideological stance. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the facts of the case rather

The Hindu logoThe HinduIndependentCenter5 days ago
Another setback for AIADMK as M.R. Vijayabhaskar resigns as MLA in Tamil Nadu

M.R. Vijayabhaskar, a member of the AIADMK and former minister in Tamil Nadu, resigned as an MLA after submitting his resignation letter to Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar on June 29, 2026. His resignation comes amid a series of departures from the AIADMK, with seven legislators now missing from the 234-member legislative assembly. Vijayabhaskar, who won the Karur constituency in the 2026 Assembly election with a narrow margin of 1,821 votes, is the sixth AIADMK MLA to resign. Five other AIADMK MLAs have already joined the ruling TVK party, while the Chief Minister vacated his seat in Tiruchi East. This development highlights ongoing instability within the AIADMK ahead of potential future elections.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the resignation of an AIADMK MLA without overtly criticizing or praising the party or its actions. It reports the event neutrally, focusing on the procedural aspects of the resignation and its implications for the legislative assembly. There is no clear

The Hindu logoThe HinduIndependentCenter5 days ago
Motive behind MLAs’ resignations irrelevant, Tamil Nadu Assembly Secretary tells Madras High Court

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Secretary, R. Santhi, appeared before the Madras High Court to defend the Speaker's decision to accept the resignations of four AIADMK MLAs. She argued that the law does not require the Speaker to assess the motive behind resignations, and that such resignations must be accepted if deemed genuine and voluntary. This follows two writ petitions filed by AIADMK whip Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy challenging the Speaker's decision. In her counter affidavit, Santhi cited a Supreme Court ruling from 2019 that stated the motive behind resignations is irrelevant. She emphasized that the Speaker accepted the resignations based on handwritten letters submitted in person and that there was no evidence suggesting the resignations were not genuine. Santhi also noted that the Speaker's actions are presumed to be regular and that the law allows for discretion in determining the nature of inquiries.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a legal argument defending the Speaker's decision based on established legal precedents and procedural norms. It does not take a clear ideological stance but rather focuses on the interpretation of legal provisions and court rulings. While the issue involves political figures, a

NDTV logoNDTVParty-alignedCenter6 days ago
Another MLA Resigns From AIADMK, 6th Resignation Since Tamil Nadu Polls

An MLA from Karur, Vijayabhaskar, has resigned from the AIADMK party after meeting with Speaker JCD Prabhakar at the state secretariat. This marks the sixth resignation from the party since the Tamil Nadu state polls, indicating ongoing internal instability within the ruling coalition. The resignations suggest potential challenges to the party's leadership and governance structure post-elections.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about a political resignation without overtly favoring any particular party or ideology. It focuses on the event itself and does not include commentary or emphasis that would indicate a clear ideological leaning.

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