CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu assembly speaker J C D Prabhakar on Wednesday said four former AIADMK MLAs — Maragatham Kumaravel, P Sathyabama, S Jayakumar, and Esakki Subaya — have responded to their show-cause notices under anti-defection law within the stipulated period. Action would be taken after examining their replies. The notices were issued on June 9 following a representation from AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami seeking action against them. “They have handed over their explanations. Further legal course of action will be taken under the anti-defection law after examining their responses,” the speaker said.Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu legislature secretariat secretary R Santhi issued a gazette notification declaring the Viralimalai assembly constituency vacant. The seat was previously held by former AIADMK minister C Vijayabaskar, who resigned from his MLA post on Tuesday. He is the fifth AIADMK MLA to resign recently, reducing the party’s strength in the state Assembly from 47 to 42.
