AIADMK MLA resigns, may pave way for Jaya's re-election

An MLA of the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu submitted his resignation as member of the  Assembly on Sunday. It was accepted by Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal.

The resignation of 56-year-old P Vetrivel, who was elected to the Assembly from the Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency in North Chennai in the May 2011 polls, assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of the acquittal of AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha by the Karnataka High Court in a disproportionate assets case last Monday.

The development has led to speculation that Jayalalitha might seek re-election to the Assembly from this constituency.

However, the AIADMK sources said Vetrivel, who was suspended from the post of North Chennai district secretary a few years ago and subsequently reinstated, was not keeping well, which forced him to resign.

A statement issued here by Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly secretary A M P Jamaludeen said Vetrivel resigned from the membership of the Assembly on May 17 and it was accepted from that date.