Defection wave in Tamil Nadu

Former AIADMK Ministers C Vijayabaskar and MR Vijayabhaskar with several party functionaries after joining the TVK at Mamallapuram in Chengalpattu on July 2, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI

Tamil Nadu has been witnessing an unusual political phenomenon ever since the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay came to power. Several MLAs, most of them from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), resigned from their hard-fought assembly seats to join the ruling party in the hope of being renominated by the TVK in the next by-election. Before their transition, even as many as 25 MLAs voted for the TVK government during the assembly test.

Although TVK emerged as the single largest party in the assembly, it fell short of a majority by 10 seats. He eventually formed the government after the Congress switched loyalties from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led camp, while the two Communist parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi initially extended outside support. They have now joined the government along with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). However, it seems that the ruling party is not satisfied with the functioning majority. Instead, he seems intent on bolstering his own numbers so that he doesn’t have to depend on allies for survival.

A reversal of the trend

The ongoing stream of resignations and defections has been described by the opposition as “horse-trading” – a phenomenon largely unknown to Tamil Nadu politics. So far, six AIADMK legislators have left the AIADMK and joined the TVK. Governments in the state traditionally enjoy comfortable legislative majorities and, when they have fallen short of the required number, have generally refrained from inciting defections to secure their position.

The trend started with the change of loyalty of S. Kamaraj, MLA of the TTV Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). When Chief Minister-designate Mr. Vijay submitted a letter of support purportedly signed by Mr. Kamaraj to Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Mr. Dhinakaran alleged that the document was forged. However, the claim was soon debunked when Mr. Kamaraj voted for the government in a motion of confidence. He was then expelled from the AMMK.

What surprised political observers even more was the defection of MLAs from the AIADMK, the party that ruled Tamil Nadu for decades under leaders like MG Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. Within days of the election results, three MLAs — Maragatham Kumaravel, S. Jayakumar and P. Sathyabama — met JCD Speaker Prabhakar and submitted their resignation letters. They were followed by Esakki Subaya. They all joined TVK right after.

But even more notable was the decision of senior AIADMK leaders and former ministers, including C. Vijayabaskar, MR Vijayabhaskar and Udumalai K. Radhakrishnan (former MLA), to defect to the ruling party. While they blamed former chief minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for their decision, their actions indicate a wider political calculation. They seem to have concluded that the bipolar political order that had long defined Tamil Nadu – dominated by the AIADMK and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) – had ended with the rise of the TVK, and that the AIADMK, deprived of a charismatic leader, had little prospect of regaining power.

Against the charge

Continuing the trend, DMK accused TVK of forcing two of its MLAs — S. Austin and Anbazhagan — to resign their seats and join the ruling party. The allegation came just after TVK alleged that former minister V. Senthilbalaji had tried to lure its MLA N. Elaiyaraja with an offer of ₹35 crore. The police subsequently arrested several people in connection with the TVK complaint. The DMK also alleged that the TVK was trying to get two MLAs (who were disputing over its symbol), originally from the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, to resign and protest again.

The flood of resignations, which began barely 20 days after the formation of the new government, provoked strong reactions from the Communist parties. They described the development as an unhealthy trend that could undermine democratic norms. Yet they seem to have little influence on the unfolding events, watching helplessly as the political drama unfolds day after day.

Published – 7 Jul 2026 01:45 IST