Former Tamil Nadu health minister and Viralimalai MLA C Vijayabaskar resigned from the state Assembly on Tuesday, dealing another blow to the AIADMK. He is the fifth party MLA to step down since the 2021 Assembly elections, reducing the AIADMK's strength in the 234-member House to 42.
Resignation Submitted to Speaker
Vijayabaskar submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar at the secretariat. In a statement, the speaker confirmed acceptance of the resignation. Vijayabaskar represented the Viralimalai constituency in Pudukkottai district.
Criticism of AIADMK Leadership
Earlier on Tuesday, Vijayabaskar criticized the AIADMK leadership in a post on X, questioning how he could remain in a party that fails to respect emotions. "Leadership is not authority or arrogance. It is a profound embrace of dedication," he wrote.
The resignations highlight growing dissent within the AIADMK, which has faced several defections since its 2021 electoral performance.
