AIADMK leader SP Velumani likely to resign as MLA: party sources

SP Velumani. File | Photo credit: M. Periasamy

According to AIADMK sources, AIADMK deputy general secretary and Thondamuthur MLA SP Velumani is likely to resign his assembly membership and quit the party. The development comes amid a series of resignations that have reduced the AIADMK’s strength in the Tamil Nadu legislature from 47 to 41.

Six AIADMK MLAs have already submitted their resignations to chairman JCD Prabhakar, formalizing the internal revolt within the party. So far, four of them have joined Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The resignations follow an earlier revolt in which 25 AIADMK MLAs defied the party whip and voted in favor of a confidence motion moved by the chief minister last month.

In an apparent bid to contain the crisis, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on June 25 appointed SP Velumani and Natham Viswanathan, both former rebel leaders, as deputy general secretaries of the party. The two were earlier removed from their organizational posts after they rebelled against the leadership following the assembly election results.

Before departing for Chennai from Coimbatore airport on Tuesday (June 30, 2026), Mr. Velumani neither confirmed nor denied the likelihood of his resignation. He told reporters that he would update them on the matter later. Sources also indicated that it is likely that the former minister will eventually join TVK.

Sections of the media carried a picture of Mr. Velumani at a meeting a few days ago in Coimbatore where he was said to be wondering how he could accept the post of deputy general secretary when many of his colleagues were not properly accommodated in the party. Bhuvanagiri legislator A. Arunmozhithevan, who was also with the rebel camp, denied quitting the party.

Published – 30 Jun 2026 15:33 IST