A fresh political row is brewing in Tamil Nadu over a fourth AIADMK MLA exiting from the party a day after three others, belonging to the Edappadi K Palaniswami faction, submitted their resignations to the speaker, reportedly seeking to join Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
The move has drawn criticism from senior AIADMK leaders, who accused the party of “horse trading.”
Three AIADMK legislators, including Maragatham Kumaravel, P Sathyabama, and S Jayakumar tendered their resignations to speaker JCD Prabhakar on Monday and met Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav Arjuna to join the TVK.
Meanwhile, fourth MLA Esakki Subaya, met the speaker on Tuesday to submit his resignation, which was denied at first since it was typed and not handwritten. Minutes later, Subaya submitted a handwritten resignation, which was then accepted.
AIADMK leaders allege ‘horse-trading’
The AIADMK faction led by chief Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday appealed to the speaker that resignations of the three MLAs submitted on Monday should not be accepted, citing alleged legal and procedural lapses behind their stepping down.
Senior leaders ‘whip’ Agri SS Krishnamoorthy, OS Manian, N Thalavai Sundaram and IS Inbadurai met the Assembly Speaker on Tuesday and sought the withdrawal of the resignations.
Krishnamoorthy further claimed that a "laminated TVK membership card was given" to the three persons who resigned. He questioned the move by saying that if the “government encourages such resignations, there will be heightened horse trading; the government should come forward to stop this,” he said, according to PTI news agency.
DMK chief MK Stalin criticises move
The move sought criticism from DMK chief MK Stalin, who termed it as "horse trading" at a "horse speed."
Congress MP slams ‘horse-trading’ move
The allied party also criticised the move, with Congress Tamil Nadu MP, S Jothimani, saying that the party cannot adopt different standards for TN and other states.
