Dr. C. Vijayabaskar, a senior AIADMK MLA and former Health Minister, resigned his seat in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Tuesday [1].
The departure of a high-ranking official signals deepening instability within the AIADMK, as the party struggles with a wave of internal defections.
Vijayabaskar represented the Viralimalai constituency [2]. His resignation is the fifth such exit from the AIADMK in a single month [3]. This trend of departures has reduced the party's strength in the Tamil Nadu Assembly to 42 seats [4].
Internal friction appears to be the primary driver of the exodus. Vijayabaskar said party turmoil and the leadership of AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami caused the instability. He said Palaniswami made "wrong decisions" [2, 5].
While the resignation from the legislative seat is confirmed, reports differ on whether Vijayabaskar has also severed ties with the party organization. Some reports indicate he is quitting the party entirely, while others suggest he has only resigned as an MLA [6, 7].
The political fallout continues to mount as the party faces a depleted presence in the assembly. Currently, four Assembly constituencies have been declared vacant following these resignations [8].
“Fifth AIADMK MLA resignation in a month”
The repeated loss of lawmakers within a 30-day window suggests a systemic leadership crisis within the AIADMK. By losing senior figures like a former Health Minister, the party not only loses legislative voting power but also loses the institutional experience necessary to challenge the ruling government in Tamil Nadu.
