NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu politics witnessed fresh turmoil on Monday after three AIADMK MLAs resigned from the Assembly and moved towards joining the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), prompting sharp reactions from both the Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK, which accused the Vijay-led party of “horse-trading”.The resignations of MLAs P Sathyabama, Maragatham Kumaravel and S Jayakumar were accepted by Assembly speaker JCD Prabhakar, reducing the AIADMK’s strength in the 234-member Assembly from 47 to 44.The three legislators, who had earlier supported the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government during the May 13 confidence vote, are expected to formally join the ruling party at its Panayur headquarters.

Stalin alleges ‘horse-trading at horse-speed’

DMK chief M K Stalin accused the TVK government of orchestrating defections and termed the developments “horse-trading”.In a strongly-worded post on X, Stalin said, “‘Horse-trading’ proceeding at ‘horse-speed’!”He alleged that TVK first sought support from alliance partners, then negotiated with sections of the AIADMK during the floor test and finally “orchestrated the resignations of certain AIADMK members and inducted them into their own party — right within the premises of the Secretariat itself.”“Did the people cast their votes for you merely to witness such disgraceful spectacles? Those who boasted of being a ‘Force of Purity’ have now been exposed as a Force of Misery,” Stalin added.The DMK leader also targeted the Congress for backing the TVK government, calling its opposition to the BJP “hypocrisy”.DMK leader R S Bharathi invoked the phrase “Aaya Ram, Gaya Ram” over the defections, as quoted by news agency ANI.

EPS calls resignations a ‘pre-planned conspiracy’

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also lashed out at the ruling party, terming the episode a “pre-planned conspiracy”.Palaniswami alleged that the resignations and induction into TVK were carried out in coordination inside the Secretariat itself.“While their resignation letters were accepted in the ground floor of the Secretariat, they were handed over membership cards at the hands of a minister in the first floor,” he claimed.“This has exposed the pre-planned conspiracy, a horse-trading,” EPS said.He further alleged that such “fraud jobs” were new to Tamil Nadu politics and said the AIADMK had survived many “betrayals” and “back-stabbings”.In a veiled attack on Vijay, EPS said some MLAs had won because voters rejected the “cinema celebrity’s symbol”, referring to TVK’s whistle symbol.“People will soon teach a lesson to those riding on others’ shoulders,” he added.

Split deepens within AIADMK

The resignations mark another setback for the AIADMK, which has been witnessing internal divisions after its defeat in the April 23 Assembly elections.The party had split into two camps, one backing Palaniswami and the other supporting senior leaders C Ve Shanmugam and S P Velumani.The three resigning MLAs were among the 25 legislators from the Shanmugam-Velumani camp who had supported the TVK government during the confidence motion.However, in a parallel development, five MLAs from the rebel faction returned to the Palaniswami camp on Monday, raising the number of MLAs backing EPS to 27.The five MLAs later met the speaker and submitted a letter affirming they would function under Palaniswami’s leadership.

Speaker says resignations accepted as per rules

Responding to allegations of horse-trading, speaker JCD Prabhakar said his role was limited to verifying whether resignation letters complied with Assembly rules.“I can only examine whether the submitted letters comply with the rules or not. I cannot comment on what happens outside,” he told reporters.With the resignations accepted, bypolls will now be required in Madurantakam, Dharapuram and Perundurai constituencies, along with Tiruchirappalli East, vacated earlier by Vijay after winning two seats.DMK MP P Wilson criticised the developments, saying the government Secretariat should not become a venue for political defections.“Within 21 days, three elected MLAs charged with defection resigned and immediately joined the TVK party at the Secretariat premises to evade the anti-defection law,” he alleged.