AIADMK Faces Crisis as MLA Esakki Subbaiah Resigns from Assembly

The AIADMK is facing a significant crisis as MLA Esakki Subbaiah resigns from the Assembly, marking the fourth resignation since the Tamil Nadu elections. His departure hints at a possible shift to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), intensifying the internal strife within the party. The AIADMK is increasingly divided, with factions supporting different leaders, leading to speculation about further defections. Subbaiah, a seasoned politician, previously won his seat in Ambasamudram and has a history of serving in government roles. This situation raises questions about the future stability of the AIADMK as it navigates these challenges.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 26, 2026, 16:06 IST

AIADMK's Internal Struggles Intensify

File image of AIADMK MLA Esakki Subbaya(Photo: X)

Chennai, May 26: The AIADMK is experiencing significant turmoil as its Ambasamudram MLA, Esakki Subbaiah, announced his resignation from the Assembly on Tuesday. This marks the fourth resignation from the party following the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Subbaiah's departure suggests he may be aligning with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), further complicating the situation for the opposition party.

He met with Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar to formally submit his resignation letter. Initially, the Speaker requested that Subbaiah provide a handwritten note instead of a typed one. Following this, he complied and submitted a handwritten resignation, which was accepted.

This resignation adds to the growing challenges faced by the AIADMK, which has shown signs of division since the elections.

The party's members appear to have split into two factions: one supporting General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and the other backing senior leader C. Ve. Shanmugam. This division became evident during the Assembly trust vote, where the Shanmugam faction sided with the TVK government, leading to backlash from the EPS faction.

Just a day prior, three other AIADMK legislators who had supported the TVK government also resigned. These MLAs include Sathyabama from Dharapuram (Reserved) constituency, Jayakumar from Perundurai constituency, and Maragatham Kumaravel from Madurantakam constituency. They submitted their resignations to Speaker Prabhakar and subsequently joined the TVK alongside senior leader Aadhav Arjuna.

With Subbaiah's resignation, speculation about additional defections from the party is on the rise.

Subbaiah is a notable figure in Tamil Nadu politics, having secured his seat in Ambasamudram by a margin of 10,245 votes in the recent elections. He has previously won this constituency in both 2011 and 2021 and has served as a minister in the government led by Jayalalithaa.