AIADMK Seeks CBI Probe into Alleged Horse-Trading by Tamil Nadu Ruling Party

The opposition AIADMK on Friday demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of horse-trading by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu.

AIADMK MP and secretary of the party's advocates' wing, I.S. Inbadurai, along with the party's agricultural wing secretary and Assembly whip 'Agri' S.S. Krishnamurthy, submitted a petition to Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal in Chennai.

Speaking to reporters after submitting the petition, Inbadurai said that if the TVK-led government was indeed pure, as it claims, it should hand over the case to the CBI. He noted that the police are already investigating another alleged horse-trading case in which a TVK legislator was offered ₹35 crore to vote against the ruling party in the Assembly.

Inbadurai alleged that no action had been taken on previous petitions submitted by the AIADMK, including one filed at the office of the Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). He said the DVAC should have conducted a preliminary inquiry but failed to do so, prompting the party to approach the DGP with another representation.

Krishnamurthy denied any intra-party power struggle within the AIADMK, asserting that party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has been reviewing the organisation's constituency-wise performance in consultation with functionaries. He claimed that no office bearers or volunteers had left the party, and only six MLAs—who were allegedly purchased by the TVK—had crossed over.

The AIADMK's demand comes amid heightened political tensions in Tamil Nadu, with both parties trading accusations of unethical practices. The ruling TVK has not yet responded to the allegations.