Defection to TVK: MR Vijayabhaskar resigns, sparking fresh political speculation in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK MLA from the Karur constituency submitted his resignation letter to Speaker JCD Prabhakar at the state secretariat on Monday. This move is seen as a major sign that he may soon join the ruling TVK party, following a wave of similar resignations from his former party.
Defection to TVK has become a recurring theme in the state’s political landscape. MR Vijayabhaskar, a senior AIADMK leader and former Transport Minister under J Jayalalithaa, lost to DMK’s V Senthil Balaji in the 2021 elections. He returned to the assembly after winning the Karur seat in the 2026 polls. His resignation is the latest in a series, with MLAs K Maragatam Kumaravel, S Jayakumar, P Sathyabama, Esakki Subbaiah, and C Vijayabhaskar also stepping down recently. Four of them have already joined the TVK, boosting the ruling party’s strength.
This development adds to the seat count of vacant constituencies, now set to reach seven, including the Tiruchirappalli East seat vacated after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay assumed power. Such vacancies could lead to future by-elections, affecting the political balance in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The resignation underscores how the defection to TVK is reshaping party dynamics across the state.
In conclusion, MR Vijayabhaskar’s resignation signals a possible shift in Tamil politics, with the AIADMK facing continued losses to the TVK. As more lawmakers switch sides, the ruling party strengthens its hold, while by-elections may test the opposition’s endurance.