Karur seat vacant as Vijayabaskar resigns; TN set for 7 bypolls

Story by PTI | Posted by Vidushi Gaur | Date 30-06-2026

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Chennai

The Karur Assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu has officially fallen vacant following the resignation of former state minister M R Vijayabaskar as MLA, taking the total number of vacant seats in the state Assembly to seven and paving the way for by-elections.

Election officials confirmed that Vijayabaskar submitted his resignation on June 29 after winning the Karur seat in the April 23 Assembly election by defeating Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidate V P Mathiyalagan.

The former AIADMK leader is widely expected to join the ruling TVK. He was among the 25 rebel AIADMK legislators who defied the party whip and voted in support of the TVK government during the Assembly floor test held on May 13.

Vijayabaskar is the sixth AIADMK MLA to resign following the party's disappointing performance in the Assembly elections. The AIADMK has witnessed a steady stream of resignations and defections since the election results were declared on May 4.

With his exit, the number of vacancies in the 234-member Assembly has increased to seven. Six vacancies have arisen due to resignations by AIADMK MLAs, while the seventh is from Tiruchirappalli East, vacated by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay after he won from two constituencies in the Assembly elections. Vijay subsequently retained the Perambur seat in Chennai.

The latest resignation reduces the AIADMK's strength in the Assembly from 47 to 41 members.

All six former AIADMK MLAs who resigned had voted in favour of the TVK government during the confidence motion, contrary to the party's official stand.

Soon after the floor test, AIADMK legislators Maragatham Kumaravel, P Sathyabama, S Jayakumar and later Esakki Subaya resigned from both the Assembly and the party before joining the TVK.

Former Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, a medical professional by training, had earlier stepped down as MLA and severed ties with the AIADMK. He is also expected to formally join the ruling party in the coming days.

The resignations have created vacancies in the Assembly constituencies of Karur, Viralimalai, Madurantakam, Dharapuram, Perundurai, Ambasamudram and Tiruchirappalli East, where by-elections are now expected to be announced.