R. Vaithilingam submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker M. Appavu and is expected to meet Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin shortly to formally join the party. File image.
| Photo Credit: R.M. Rajarathinam

Former AIADMK Minister and sitting MLA R. Vaithilingam on Wednesday (January 21, 2026) submitted his resignation from the Assembly, announcing his decision to join the ruling DMK.

Mr. Vaithilingam, who was elected from the Orathanadu Assembly constituency, is a known supporter of former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. He is the second MLA aligned with Mr. Panneerselvam to switch allegiance to the DMK. Earlier, P H Manoj Pandian, the MLA from Alangulam constituency, had joined the DMK.

With Mr. Vaithilingam’s exit, Vellamandi Natarajan remains the only MLA currently supporting Mr. Panneerselvam.

Mr. Vaithilingam submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker M. Appavu and is expected to meet Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin shortly to formally join the party.

Published – January 21, 2026 09:52 am IST