Seven TN Assembly Seats Declared Vacant After AIADMK MLA M R Vijayabhaskar Resigns

The Karur Assembly constituency has been declared vacant following the resignation of AIADMK MLA M R Vijayabhaskar, bringing the total number of vacant legislative assembly seats in Tamil Nadu to seven. The vacancy comes as Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay retained his Perambur seat in Chennai and vacated Tiruchirappalli East, prompting upcoming by-elections across seven constituencies in the state.

Vijayabhaskar, a former state minister, officially resigned from his legislative post on June 29. He had won the Karur seat by defeating Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate V P Mathiyalagan in the April 23 Assembly election. Following his resignation, Vijayabhaskar is reportedly likely to join the ruling TVK.

The resignation is part of a larger political shift within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Vijayabhaskar was among 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs who voted in favor of the TVK government during a crucial floor test in the Assembly on May 13, defying the AIADMK party diktat.

With Vijayabhaskar's departure, he becomes the sixth AIADMK legislator to resign following the party's setbacks in the recent Assembly elections. The party has faced an exodus of cadres and leaders since the election results were declared on May 4. The string of resignations has reduced the AIADMK's strength in the legislative assembly from 47 to 41.

Prior to Vijayabhaskar's exit, several other AIADMK members resigned to join the TVK shortly after the May floor test. These include Maragatham Kumaravel, P Sathyabama, S Jayakumar, and Esakki Subaya. Former health minister C Vijayabaskar also resigned as an MLA and quit the party, with plans to join the TVK.

These political movements have left six AIADMK-held seats vacant, specifically in Karur, Viralimalai, Madurantakam, Dharapuram, Perundurai, and Ambasamudram. The seventh vacancy is Tiruchirappalli East, which was vacated by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay due to his dual victory.