New Delhi, 26 October (H.S.): The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a writ petition filed by M. Srinivasan challenging the resignations of former legislators who left the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant heard the petition and observed that an elected representative resigning from the post of legislator and joining another political party was part of the normal political process and did not, in itself, constitute anything “criminal”.

Counsel appearing for the petitioner referred to allegations of horse-trading and cited a First Information Report (FIR) that had already been registered in connection with the matter. The court clarified that the investigation into the FIR would proceed independently and that it would not interfere with the process in the exercise of its writ jurisdiction.

Earlier, on October 13, 2026, the Madras High Court had upheld the decision of the Assembly Speaker to accept the resignations of six AIADMK legislators: S. Jayakumar, Maragatham Kumaravel, P. Sathyabama, Dr. S. Esakki Subaya, Dr. C. Vijayabaskar and M. R. Vijayabhaskar.

The High Court had clarified that accepting a legislator’s resignation did not render disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution ineffective. It had also directed the Assembly Speaker to decide the disqualification petitions on their merits within two months.

The legislators had submitted their resignations from the Tamil Nadu Assembly during May and June 2026. They had also allegedly violated the party whip during a confidence vote in support of the TVK government.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar