DMK accuses Tamil Nadu CM, Vaiko of horse-trading; demands DVAC inquiry

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday urged Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar to order a probe by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) into an alleged conspiracy to poach two of its legislators. The party alleges that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and MDMK general secretary Vaiko induced MLAs T.M. Rajendran and R. Senthilselvan to resign through corrupt means.

In a complaint submitted to the Governor, DMK organisation secretary R.S. Bharathi stated that Rajendran, who represents Kadayanallur, and Senthilselvan, from Sirkazhi, were persuaded to quit their Assembly seats. Although both originally belonged to the MDMK, they contested the 2026 Assembly election on the DMK’s Rising Sun symbol as party-sponsored candidates.

“The actions of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Mr. Vaiko amount to subverting the democratic process and frustrating the mandate of the people,” Bharathi said. He noted that both legislators had filed their nominations with Forms AA and BB, signed by the DMK president and general secretary respectively, confirming their status as DMK candidates.

The complaint further alleged that since the TVK government assumed office in May 2026, it has been persuading legislators from other parties to resign and join the ruling party. Bharathi pointed to a speech by Vaiko at his party’s general council meeting, where the MDMK leader reportedly admitted that Vijay requested him to convince the two MLAs to resign. According to Bharathi, Vaiko said that during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence, Vijay discussed the issue for over an hour and suggested that Rajendran and Senthilselvan must resign, promising to campaign for them if they contested bypolls.

Bharathi described this as an inducement amounting to horse-trading of elected representatives. He also alleged that Vaiko subsequently summoned the MLAs before his party’s high-level committee and conveyed the Chief Minister’s proposal.

The complaint also referenced the resignation of several AIADMK MLAs who later joined the TVK. While acknowledging that each case may have different circumstances, Bharathi argued that the pattern warranted an independent investigation into whether there was a systematic effort to alter the Assembly’s composition through negotiated resignations rather than constitutional electoral processes.

Appealing to the Governor, Bharathi said that as the constitutional head of the state, he cannot remain indifferent to such allegations. “Please do not turn a blind eye to blatant horse-trading and corrupt practices allegedly committed by the ruling party and the Chief Minister, thereby undermining constitutional morality and democratic values,” he said.