Former AIADMK MLAs facing disqualification proceedings appear before Speaker

Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar. File | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam Four former AIADMK MLAs against whom disqualification proceedings are pending under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution individually appeared before Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar in Chennai on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) and submitted their explanations.Former MLAs Maragatham Kumaravel (Maduranthagam), P. Sathyabama (Dharapuram), S. Jeyakumar (Perundurai) and Esakki Subaya (Ambasamudram) appeared before the Speaker at his chamber in the Secretariat and submitted their explanations. AIADMK MLAs Agri S.S. Krishnamoorthy, N. Thalavai Sundaram and Thamarai S. Rajendran were also present on behalf of the party. AIADMK MLAs Agri S.S. Krishnamoorthy, N. Thalavai Sundaram and Thamarai S. Rajendran arriving at the Secretariat in Chennai on August 4, 2026 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement This was pursuant to the disqualification petition submitted to the Speaker by AIADMK floor leader and party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on May 13 after 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs voted in favour of the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government during the vote of confidence in the Assembly.Later, Mr. Palaniswami condoned the actions of 21 of the 25 MLAs, while the remaining four members resigned from the Assembly and joined the TVK. During the inquiry into the petition submitted by Mr. Palaniswami, the four former MLAs had separately appeared before the Speaker on two earlier occasions and submitted both oral and written explanations for their conduct during the trust vote, during which they had allegedly defied the party whip. Published - August 04, 2026 06:33 pm IST