Madras HC Backs Speaker’s Decision to Accept Resignations of 6 AIADMK MLAs

October 13, 2026

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Tuesday upheld Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar’s decision to accept the resignations of six AIADMK MLAs who joined the Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).

These MLAs include Margatham Kumaravel, Satyabhama, Isakki Subbiah, Jayakumar, M.R. Vijayabhaskar, and C. Vijayabhaskar.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan delivered the verdict while hearing petitions filed by AIADMK Whip Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy. The MLAs’ resignations were accepted between May 26 and June 29, 2026.

High Court upholds acceptance of resignations as constitutionally valid

The division bench held that the decision to accept the MLAs’ resignations was constitutionally valid and did not require a comprehensive investigation. However, the court also clarified that disqualification proceedings against the MLAs could continue.

The petitioners had alleged that the Assembly Speaker did not conduct a proper investigation when accepting the MLAs’ resignations while disqualification proceedings against them were pending.

Allegations of Violation of Party Whip

The disqualification petition against six MLAs was filed based on the allegation that they had violated the party whip and voted in support of the TVK government.

AIADMK Whip Agri Krishnamurthy and National People’s Power Party leader Ravi had approached the court seeking the Speaker’s decision to overturn it.

The petitioners alleged that the Speaker did not conduct any meaningful investigation into the resignations. They also cited a complaint made to the Governor regarding horse-trading of MLAs.

On the other hand, the MLAs who resigned argued that resigning and joining another party is part of democratic politics. The Assembly Secretary stated that if MLAs resign voluntarily, the Speaker cannot refuse to accept them.

TVK wins by-elections in two assembly seats

Amidst this controversy, by-elections were also held in the Maduranthakam and Dharapuram assembly seats. These by-elections were held following the resignations of former AIADMK MLAs Margatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabhama, who had resigned and joined Joseph Vijay’s party, the TVK.

According to the Election Commission, TVK candidate P. Sathyabhama won the Dharapuram seat by securing 66,841 votes. TVK candidate K. Maragatham Kumaravel won the Maduranthakam seat.

Both candidates contested again on the TVK’s election symbol, ‘whistle’, and retained their seats by a large margin over the DMK and AIADMK candidates.

Clarify Tuesday with the dateMake the by-election part more consistent