Four former AIADMK MLAs who resigned their Assembly seats and joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) are facing uncertainty over getting tickets for the upcoming by-elections in their constituencies, according to party sources.
The MLAs—Jeyakumar (Perundurai), Isakki Subbiah (Ambasamudram), Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam) and Sathyabama (Dharapuram)—had quit the AIADMK and moved to TVK after expressing dissatisfaction with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami following electoral setbacks.
Senior TVK functionaries said the ruling side currently has the support of 119 MLAs, including allies such as the Congress, VCK, the two Communist parties and the Muslim League, besides TVK legislators. They claimed Chief Minister Vijay is not fully confident that alliance partners will remain with the coalition till the end.
Sources said talks with the defectors were held through senior TVK leaders, with the Chief Minister’s position being that tickets would be decided based on surveys even if they resigned and joined. However, ministers including Anand, Aadhav Arjuna and Sengottaiyan allegedly made broad assurances, leading the four to expect bypoll nominations.
The leadership is now said to be reluctant to field them again, citing poor local perception and the risk of defeat. TVK is reportedly considering offering them posts such as chairmanships in boards instead, a move that has left the four upset and reportedly confronting those who brought them into the party.
