setback-for-aiadmk-as-vaigai-selvan-quits-party

The AIADMK faced another political setback on Friday as former Vaigai Selvan resigned from the party, adding to a string of high-profile departures that have deepened uncertainty within the opposition outfit.

According to party sources, Vaigai Selvan submitted his resignation letter to AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. However, he did not immediately reveal the reasons behind his decision to quit the party.

His resignation comes just a day after former AIADMK ministers C Vijayabaskar and M R Vijayabhaskar joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), dealing another blow to the AIADMK's leadership and organisational strength.

Ahead of joining the TVK on Thursday, both leaders resigned from their Assembly memberships as well as the primary membership of the AIADMK, accusing the current leadership of straying from the founding ideals and principles of the party.

Speaking to reporters after formally joining the TVK, C Vijayabaskar said that he and several other legislators had repeatedly urged the AIADMK leadership to enter into an electoral alliance with the TVK, but their appeals were ignored.

 

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"We both, former Transport Minister of Tamil Nadu, MR Vijayabhaskar and I, have joined the TVK. Before the election, we insisted that our leader form an alliance with the TVK. He didn't listen. After the election, the majority voted for the TVK. So again, more than 30 MLAs insisted on having an alliance," he said.

Vijayabaskar further alleged that certain sections of the AIADMK leadership had been trying to negotiate an alliance with the DMK, claiming that such efforts went against the vision and principles laid down by the party's founder.

 

Dismissing speculation that political inducements had influenced their decision, Vijayabaskar said, "We have come out of the party, and we have resigned from our MLA post. Now we are joining the TVK. There is no horse trading."

He also indicated that he is expected to meet TVK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in the coming days. Vaigai Selvan's resignation is likely to intensify speculation over further defections from the AIADMK, as political realignments continue to reshape the landscape ahead of the next electoral battle in Tamil Nadu.