₹35 crore to topple Vijay govt: TVK MLA alleges horse-trading; ‘DMK link’ emerges

Nearly two months after actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay assumed office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, a series of allegations have emerged suggesting attempts to destabilize his government through political horse-trading. These claims involve accusations against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the main opposition party in the state, and suggest a potential link between the DMK and efforts to bribe members of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party.

The controversy began when TVK MLA N Elaiyaraja came forward with a complaint on June 29, stating that he was approached by a man named Thirunavukkarasu, who claimed to represent an organization called Indian Political Democratic Strategies (IPDS). According to Elaiyaraja, Thirunavukkarasu informed him that he was acting on behalf of members of a major political party and requested that he vote in a specific way during a proposed resolution against the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. In exchange, Elaiyaraja was allegedly offered up to ₹35 crore.

Elaiyaraja further alleged that he was threatened after declining the offer and warned not to disclose the conversation. Following these allegations, the police registered a case and arrested three individuals—Thirunavukkarasu of Arumbakkam, Chennai, Naresh of Tiruchirappalli, and Thiyagarajan of Medavakkam, Chennai. The investigation revealed that Naresh had met V Ashok Kumar, the brother of former DMK minister and current MLA for Coimbatore South, V Senthil Balaji, in Chennai. It was also indicated that Thirunavukkarasu might have acted under the instructions of Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar.

Reacting to the developments, Tamil Nadu minister P Nirmal Kumar accused the DMK of making sustained efforts to poach TVK MLAs for the past 40 days. He claimed that the DMK, led by President MK Stalin, was trying to destabilize the government after losing the recent Assembly elections. Kumar specifically pointed out that Senthil Balaji and his brother, Ashok Kumar, were allegedly supporting these efforts by offering substantial financial incentives to MLAs to vote against the TVK government in a no-confidence motion against the Speaker. Kumar emphasized that the DMK was not accepting the people's verdict and had instead aligned with the AIADMK to overthrow the current administration.

The DMK, however, has categorically denied the allegations, dismissing them as baseless. Party spokesperson TKS Elangovan questioned the logic of such an approach, stating that buying a single MLA would not benefit the DMK in forming a government. He argued that there was a hidden agenda behind these allegations and accused the TVK of spreading misinformation. In response, the DMK also raised counter-charges, suggesting that the TVK itself had attempted to lure MLAs from other parties. DMK organizing secretary RS Bharathi called for a probe into allegations that two MDMK MLAs had been approached and urged the Governor to take appropriate action.

Meanwhile, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu continues to evolve. Former AIADMK ministers C Vijayabaskar, M R Vijayabaskar, and M S M Anandan announced their intention to join the TVK, citing their confidence in Vijay's leadership. These defections could potentially strengthen the ruling party's position amid ongoing tensions. Additionally, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has called for a thorough investigation into the allegations of bribing MLAs and ensuring strict legal action against those involved.

As the situation unfolds, both the TVK and DMK remain locked in a political battle, with each accusing the other of undermining democratic processes. The outcome of this conflict will likely depend on the results of the ongoing investigations and the subsequent actions taken by the authorities. The stability of Vijay's government remains uncertain, with the potential for further political maneuvering and alliances shaping the future of Tamil Nadu's governance.