In Tamil Nadu, despite the watchful eyes of the ECI, its flying squads and political parties, voters are being bribed with items ranging from Boost to sarees, brass and stainless vessels, silverware, watches, mobiles, dhoties, besides money in their G-Pay accounts.
According to journalists who have been covering TN polls, “There is one political party in the state that has mastered the tricks of cheating the EC to bribe voters, impersonation and bogus voting, and removing indelible ink without a trace. They have a PhD in that. They are far more superior than Mamata’s Trinamool Congress.”
The phrase ‘Thirumangalam Formula’ is well known across the country. It originated during a bypoll in Madurai, marking a new phase in the state’s cash-for-votes politics. Under this alleged method, up to Rs 5,000 per vote was reportedly distributed in envelopes concealed within morning newspapers.
Bribing voters with cash or kind is a common phenomenon in state electoral politics before polls or on voting day. In another ingenious move, DMK had prevented the opposition from reaching out to the electorate in the Erode East Assembly constituency.
The opposition AIADMK claimed that DMK functionaries were confining voters in several pockets of the town in temporary shelters where cash was doled out and meals served three times a day.
Former AIADMK Minister C V Shanmugam told the media at that time, “The ruling DMK men have erected shamianas at all booths and confined the voters, who are served food and given cash daily. The Election Commission of India should take immediate steps to remove the shamianas and free the voters.”
They said even before the poll bugle was blown, DMK had initiated reaching households under various schemes. It had also given them watches, vessels, cash in covers and other freebies, besides taking down their mobile numbers.
வித விதமாய் வித்தியாசமாய்.
இதுக்கு பேர் தான், சின்ன மீனை போட்டு
பெரிய மீனை புடிக்குறது.புழுவுக்கு ஆசைப்பட்டு
போகும் மீனே,
தூண்டிலில மாட்டிக்கிட்டா
சோகம் தானே.. pic.twitter.com/VBoEAyU9Qy— சேட்டை🐯 (@Settai_R) March 19, 2026
On July 21, 2025, the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court of India took action against the DMK party regarding their “Oraniyil Tamil Nadu” digital membership drive, which involved collecting mobile numbers and using One Time Passwords (OTPs) to verify them.
This distribution of freebies started well ahead of the poll schedule announced by the ECI. There were videos showing the freebies stored in a godown or being packed or distributed.
Even the fledgling actor Joseph Vijay’s TVK party was found to indulge in such illegalities after promising an “alternative to two corrupt DMK and AIADMK regimes” and claiming it would follow clean politics.
On March 12, as per a video, in Jawahar Nagar, TVS Road near Goundampalayam in Coimbatore, DMK was alleged to have stored brass vessels meant for distribution during polls.
On March 18, in a video showing parcels with CM Stalin’s image meant for distribution to voters, stored in a godown, were seized by ECI officials in Ukkadam in Coimbatore district.
https://twitter.com/TvkLeo2024/status/2034283619955728387?s=20
In another place, ECI officials seized 1,000 brass vessels stored at a location on March 19.
திமுகவினர் பதுக்கி வைத்திருந்ததாகக் கூறப்படும் 1000 அண்டாக்கள் பறிமுதல்..https://t.co/IOYnxDvKys
— Pokkiri_Victor (@Pokkiri_Victor) March 19, 2026
Netizen Sanghi Prince says, “Thousands of items were recovered by the Election Commission from a DMK leader, says the news. Imagine giving Rs 5,000 to housewives with taxpayers’ money and still preparing more bribes, fearing that you will lose because of the atrocities and scams your party did. DMK is done, man.”
1000s of items were recovered by the Election Commission from a DMK leader, says the news.
Imagine giving 5000rs to housewives with taxpayers money and still preparing more bribes fearing that you will lose because of the atrocities and scams your party did.
DMK is done man😂 pic.twitter.com/3F7uEk9ysa
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) March 20, 2026
In Rajapalayam, freebies from sitting DMK MLA Thangapandian were displayed in a video by the public. They questioned what the flying squad was doing.
இராஜபாளையம் Mla தங்கபாண்டியனின்
பரிசு பொருள்….தேர்தல் ஆணையம்….
அதிகாரிகள் பறக்கும் படை என்ன செய்யுது? pic.twitter.com/7XsdrhrKeS
— Senthan guru (சேந்தன் குரு) (@guru_senthan) March 20, 2026
The opposition parties including AIADMK-BJP, NTK and TVK, on Friday alleged that the DMK is setting up large sheds across Karur only “to confine voters, prevent them from attending other political rallies and bribe them.”
On Friday, former AIADMK minister M R Vijayabhaskar submitted a complaint, along with images of these sheds, to District Collector K Ravi Kumar, who is also the District Election Officer, demanding action.
Opposition parties including #AIADMK–#BJP, #NTK, and #TVK, on Friday alleged that the DMK is setting up large sheds across #Karur only “to confine voters, prevent them from attending other political rallies and bribe them.” On Friday, former AIADMK minister M R Vijayabhaskar… pic.twitter.com/md6QKjVe1R
— Srivatsal Subramaniam (@SVatsal14825) March 20, 2026
On March 20, TN BJP wrote to the ECI stating that DMK men were carrying voter inducement/distribution registers bearing the images of Chief Minister MK Stalin and the DMK symbol (Rising Sun), in which they recorded details such as the number of voters per household, mobile numbers, Aadhaar numbers and other personal information from each family. This was reported in Kolathur constituency, which is CM M K Stalin’s Assembly segment.
It is learnt that on March 18, the flying squad team confiscated several lakh worth of silver articles in Chepauk-Triplicane Assembly constituency, represented by Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin.
According to a post on social media, DMK has reportedly been giving mobile phones, gold wristwatches, Rs 1,000 cash, umbrellas, bags, power banks, books, diaries, examination writing pads, bikes or scooters to its booth-level workers across Tamil Nadu.
In TN, there are 90,000 booths. DMK spends Rs 200 crore on them besides their daily expenses like food, liquor prior to polling, on polling day till counting takes place and daily wages. No wonder why DMK wins elections and indulges in malpractices with its committed workers, says a journalist.
Prior to poll announcement, as part of Udhayanidhi Stalin’s birthday, in his constituency Chepauk-Triplicane, in Chintadripet, welfare kits were given to 1,135 beneficiaries. It is a sort of freebie to get their votes.
திராவிட மாடல் நாயகர் மாண்புமிகு முதலமைச்சர் @mkstalin அவர்களின் பிறந்த நாள் விழா, நம் #ChepaukTriplicane தொகுதி, சேப்பாக்கம் பகுதி, சிந்தாதிரிப்பேட்டை,
62 அ – வட்டக்கழகத்துக்குட்பட்ட சாமி தெருவில் இன்று நடைபெற்ற போது அதில் கலந்து கொண்டோம்.அப்பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த 1135 பேருக்கு… pic.twitter.com/6a2ULMALJb
— Udhay (@Udhaystalin) March 14, 2026
In Erode, the TN Excise Minister was seen giving away gift hampers to locals of his constituency. The date of the video is not available.
டாஸ்மாக் துறை அமைச்சருக்கு ஈரோடு முத்துச்சாமி வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பரிசு பொருள் கொடுக்கும் அந்த காணொளி இணையதளங்களில் வைரலாகி வருகிறது..
இது எப்போது எடுக்கப்பட்டது என தேர்தல் ஆணையம் விசாரிக்குமாpic.twitter.com/xoXGMXyfhd
— கழுகுப்பார்வை 🦅🇮🇳 (@TheEagle3_0) March 16, 2026
In another video, CM Stalin-stickered saree boxes were being packed by women. The place and date of the video are unavailable.
In Hindu dominated Pallavaram areas, DMK cadres distributed, on behalf of its sitting MLA, gifts including Kanchi Mutt seer pictures and replicas of his footwear.
Newly floated TVK also started giving freebies in yellow cloth bags. The police confiscated them following a complaint. It had the wording: “We will make Vijay CM,” by Lion JKR J Murugan.
போலீஸே சிரிக்கிறாப்ல 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/32bwpzevoN
— சிலுவை (@SiluvaM_) March 16, 2026
In another video, stainless steel vessels with the DMK symbol and V Senthil Balaji, MLA, were inscribed.
இனி திமுக-வினர் தேர்தலுக்கு பணம் கொடுத்தாலோ, வேறேதும் பொருட்கள் கொடுத்தாலோ தேர்தல் ஆணையத்திடம் வீடியோ காணொளியுடன் ஆதாராம் கொடுக்கப்படும்…
இனி எப்படி கொடுக்கிறிங்கன்னு பார்ப்போம்டா…
தவெக தோழர்களே எங்கு யார் எதைக் கொடுத்தாலும் வீடியோ எடுத்து சமூக வளைதளத்தகல் பதிவிடுங்கள்.😁 pic.twitter.com/6XyOsui4oB
— 𓃰PASUPATHI 𓃰 TVK🇪🇸 (@Pasupathi1506) March 17, 2026
In another, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin was seen giving gift hampers to voters, a social media post claims.
கொள்ளையடித்த பணத்தில் பிச்சை போடும் திருட்டு திராவிட மாடல் கூட்டம் 🤦🏻♂️ pic.twitter.com/JyCuOqD6OQ
— அர்ஜுன் தமிழீழவன் (Arjun) (@___Arjun___04) March 17, 2026
In Tiruchengode, the Election flying squad police seized two bags full of utensils labelled with TVK candidate Arun Raj and Vijay’s photo. The utensils were stored by TVK for distribution to voters as bribes.
Tamilnadu news ‼
In Tiruchengode, Election flying squad Police seized 2 bags full of Utensils labeled with TVK candidate Arun Raj and Vijay photo. Utensils where stored by tvk for distribution to voters as bribe
Just another party… pic.twitter.com/01RAwoX8oZ
— JB (@JBtwet) March 17, 2026
Arun Raj was an ex-IRS officer who had been championing against corruption, but is now seen bribing voters with stainless steel boxes bearing pictures of Vijay and himself.
இந்த மாதிரி சம்படம் கொடுக்குறதுக்கு பதிலா டிபன் கேரியர் கொடுத்தா “கேரியரின்” உச்சத்தில் இருந்து வந்தேன்னு சொல்றதுக்கு மேட்சிங்கா இருக்கும். ஐடியா இல்லாத பசங்க… pic.twitter.com/1TZ657iMyf
— Sen Balan (@senbalan) March 16, 2026
EC’s flying squad promptly seized them following complaints.
சோத்துக்கு பதிலா பீ ஏதும் திங்கிரியா ராமு https://t.co/9oh2gQ8dVO pic.twitter.com/qBeMo7GVAc
— Suresh AK ™ (@Suresh_Ak13) March 17, 2026
In another video, DMK was allegedly seen distributing vessels to the public. This is a clear violation of the MCC.
தேர்தல் நடத்தை விதிமுறைகளுக்கு எதிராக திமுகவினர் பரிசுப்பெருட்கள் விநியோகிக்கின்றனர்.@ECISVEEP @TNelectionsCEO
pic.twitter.com/GmbEwx8SGA— Sindhu TVK (@sindhu_515) March 16, 2026
In another instance, to target women and girls, DMK distributed napkins, which were seized by the ECI team. This was spotted in Chennai’s Kolathur constituency represented by CM M K Stalin.
என்னடா இது…. 😲😲😲
எதுக்குடா சொல்லிட்டு கொடுங்கடா 200உபிஸ் #pampersDMK#SaveWomenFromDMK #PackUpStalin #ByeByeStalin #aiadmkprotectstn pic.twitter.com/U3MHgXCXeT
— Gowri Sankar D (@GowriSankarD_) March 17, 2026
The public was seen vying with each other to receive hampers from DMK workers in Pallipalayam in Erode district.
தேர்தல் விதிமுறை காற்றில் பறந்த சம்பவம்.. பள்ளிபாளையம் அருகே திமுக வழங்கிய பரிசு பொருள்… போட்டி போட்டுக் கொண்டு வாங்கிச் சென்ற பொதுமக்கள்..#Namakkal #Pallipalayam #DMK #Gift #TNelection #TNpolitics #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/3sMQuza8eh
— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) March 18, 2026
TVK also distributed Boost-labelled drinking bottles with pictures of Vijay and Arun Raj.
பாத்திரத்தில் இருந்து பூஸ்ட் க்கு அப்டேட் ஆகி இருக்கானுங்க😂
மாற்றத்துக்கான மானங்கெட்டவனுங்க pic.twitter.com/7ykHvTiuxG
— சிலுவை (@SiluvaM_) March 18, 2026
NTK, AIADMK, BJP and others submitted a petition to the Karur District Election Officer and Collector alleging that the DMK is setting up large sheds to confine voters and prevent them from attending other political rallies.
Critics call this like a cattle pound, where inmates are given food, water, biryani, liquor and cash at the end of the day. This was reportedly implemented in Erode, Aravakurichi and other Assembly bypolls successfully by DMK.
Political parties have stepped up the distribution of gifts to voters soon after the model code of conduct came into force in several parts of the state through outreach programmes.
In Coimbatore, large utensils carrying images of DMK leaders were seized from a workshop and handed over to election officials. In Namakkal, around 250 silver utensils bearing images of TVK leaders were seized from a government apartment following a complaint.
TN Chief Electoral Officer Archana Patnaik said cash and goods worth Rs 42.65 crore had been seized as of March 18. Flying squads have also seized gold jewellery worth Rs 2.5 crore in the Nilgiris.
In Coimbatore, people who were not given brass and stainless steel vessels (andas) complained to authorities, who seized the items meant for distribution in a godown. It is learnt that when DMK men gave tokens, nobody took them seriously because of past experience of unfulfilled promises. However, this time those who received tokens were given gifts. They were also told that more would come soon and to keep the tokens safely.
In Ariyalur district at Karadikulam, DMK ward secretary Manivannan and Anbhazhagan, in violation of MCC, distributed stainless steel vessels to the public. On hearing this, police arrived and seized them. They also inspected DMK town functionary Gnanaprakash’s house and seized 14 stainless steel utensils and 12 sarees meant for distribution to voters.
There is no end to this as long as voters, without understanding the value of their vote, continue receiving freebies and gifts, which are actually funded by public money looted by politicians.
This is only a small percentage, as major loot is retained by them. The unethical conduct of both political parties and voters reflects the real value and respect accorded to the democratic right of voting that can shape society and the country.
