Congress, Left slam DMK over allegations of trying to bribe TVK MLAs

The Congress and the Left parties strongly condemned the DMK over fresh allegations that it attempted to bribe TVK MLAs to topple Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s government in Tamil Nadu.

Left leaders described the move as a desperate rejection of the people’s mandate and called for a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for all those involved, irrespective of their political affiliation.

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Reports have surfaced alleging that intermediaries tried to strike a deal worth Rs 35 crore to lure TVK legislators. Several individuals allegedly involved in the operation have already been arrested.

Left parties target DMK

CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam said the real motive behind DMK president MK Stalin’s recent remarks about “elections coming soon” and “regime change” had now become clear.

“The DMK cannot digest the fact that it is not in power. It refuses to accept the people’s clear verdict that there must be a change of government in Tamil Nadu. That is why it is resorting to such horse trading. These attempts are being made solely to topple the TVK government and return to power,” Shanmugam said.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian dismissed Stalin's prediction that the TVK government would collapse soon. “It is not possible. We have given it firm support. Other parties are also participating in the government. Therefore, there is a clear majority. Stalin’s statement has no chance of becoming reality,” he said.

DMK denies horse trading

Speaking to The Federal, DMK leader and former minister S Regupathy strongly denied that the party was involved in any horse trading.

“Certainly, we will not topple the government. We will come to power only by facing the people in elections. There is not even an iota of intention to come to power through the backdoor. If we were involved in horse trading, we would never have asked our alliance partners to support the government,” he told The Federal.

He accused other parties of indulging in such practices. Citing MDMK general secretary Vaiko’s public statement, he said Vijay had asked two MDMK MLAs to resign, promising to ensure their victory in the by-elections.

Regupathy also questioned why no FIR had been registered in earlier horse-trading cases involving other parties.

Parties trade fresh charges

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee spokesperson Robert Iniyan said the DMK appeared to be acting out of weakness and insecurity.

“The DMK is feeling weak and insecure. That is why it is trying to break away TVK MLAs using its strength. It will not succeed. Some over-enthusiastic lower-level workers might have done this. But I do not believe the DMK leadership would have been involved in such bargaining. The DMK should focus on narrative politics rather than just MLA numbers,” he told The Federal.

Vaiko described the recent developments as the biggest political scam in Tamil Nadu's history. “Recently, there has been bargaining worth Rs 35 crore for a TVK MLA. Many questions have arisen about possible DMK and AIADMK links. A proper investigation must be conducted and those operating from behind the scenes must be brought to justice,” he said.

But AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran turned the tables on TVK, accusing Vijay of being the “first culprit” in political horse trading. He cited two examples: the alleged bargaining with AMMK’s S Kamaraj and Vijay’s reported request to MDMK MLAs to resign.

“TVK is not a thooya sakti (pure force). It is a destructive force that is deceiving the people. Although people chose TVK as an alternative to the DMK and AIADMK, they will soon realise it is not a real alternative. While senior and junior leaders are defecting en masse from the AIADMK to the TVK, the first culprit in horse trading is none other than Chief Minister Vijay,” Dhinakaran charged.

TVK questions Stalin’s claims

Tamil Nadu Congress general secretary Lakshmi Ramachandran urged everyone to wait for the police investigation to conclude while expressing suspicion about the DMK's repeated predictions that the government would collapse.

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Speaking to The Federal, she said: “The DMK leadership repeatedly saying that the government will fall in six months has to be viewed with suspicion. In such a situation, the news that has emerged about bargaining also needs to be seen in that light. Police have found something; let them complete the investigation. The truth will come out during the probe.”

TVK leader and Tamil Nadu Health Minister KG Arunraj took a dig at Stalin, saying the former chief minister continued to be misled.

“Stalin, who claimed recently that the TVK government would fall soon, was deceived when he was in power and is still being deceived now. He lost even in his own constituency because he did not understand the ground reality. It is pitiable. The four people around him are misleading him by saying that the TVK government is performing poorly,” he told The Federal.