Karur Seat Vacated After AIADMK MLA Resigns, Seven Vacant

The Karur Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu has been declared vacant following the resignation of former minister and AIADMK legislator M.R. Vijayabaskar, bringing the total number of vacant seats in the state assembly to seven. The resignation, submitted to Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar on Monday, June 29, was formally accepted, state officials confirmed.

Vijayabaskar, who was re-elected from Karur in the April 23 assembly elections, is the sixth AIADMK lawmaker to resign since the polls. His departure reduces the party's strength in the 234-member assembly to 41 from its original tally of 47. The vacancies set the stage for by-elections in seven constituencies: Karur, Viralimalai, Madurantakam, Dharapuram, Perundurai, Ambasamudram, and Tiruchirappalli East. The Tiruchirappalli East seat was vacated by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who retained the Perambur constituency after winning both.

The resignations stem from an ongoing internal crisis within the opposition AIADMK following its electoral setback. The rift became public during a confidence vote for the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government on May 13, when 25 AIADMK legislators defied a party whip and voted in...