Tamil Nadu’s political battle has escalated after the ruling TVK claimed to have foiled an alleged attempt by the DMK to buy its MLAs, while the DMK retaliated by levelling horse-trading allegations against the Vijay government. The row intensified after Tamil Nadu Police arrested three men for allegedly attempting to bribe a TVK MLA to vote against Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar in a proposed no-confidence motion during the next Assembly session. Sources claim that former powerful DMK minister V Senthil Balaji was behind the alleged operation to lure TVK legislators.
According to media reports, Uthangarai TVK MLA Dr N Elaiyaraja lodged a complaint with the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner on June 29.
In his complaint, he alleged that one Thirunavukkarasu, who runs an opinion polling firm called Indian Political Democratic Strategies (IPDS), contacted him, saying he was “making this call on behalf of a major political party to arrange a one-to-one meeting”. “I did not agree to that. He continued to call me for the same purpose.”
In one of the calls, Thirunavukkarasu allegedly said that “a no-confidence motion will be brought against the Speaker” and asked him to act in a specific manner during the motion, promising a reward of up to Rs. 35 crore. “I refused to do so and told him not to contact me again in this regard. The caller then warned me of dire consequences if I disclosed the conversation to anyone.”
After registering an FIR, police probed the matter. They arrested Thirunavukkarasu of Arumbakkam, Naresh of Tiruchi and Medavakkam resident Thiagarajan.
During the probe, it came to light that V Ashok Kumar, the brother of Coimbatore South MLA V Senthil Balaji, had met Naresh. TVK minister CTR Nirmal Kumar alleged that DMK president MK Stalin and LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin had entrusted Senthil Balaji with the task of “luring” TVK MLAs by offering them up to Rs. 50 crore each with the intention of toppling the government.
Talking to the media, he said, “We have been continuously saying for the last 40 days that DMK’s Stalin and his team have been trying to poach our MLAs. A few days ago, one of our MLAs was threatened by DMK members. This was backed by Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok. With their support, they allegedly offered around Rs. 35 crore to one of our MLAs and asked him to vote against TVK when a no-confidence motion against the Speaker is brought. That was their request. When he refused, he was allegedly threatened severely by DMK members. The three arrested are close aides of Senthil Balaji. It is nothing but a move to topple the government and was a horse-trading move.”
Nirmal Kumar said, “Stalin had already lost his own constituency and even in Kolathur he suffered a major setback. The people of Tamil Nadu have clearly rejected him. He earlier joined hands with his bete noire AIADMK to form the government and is now trying to topple the government by engaging in horse-trading. We condemn this act.”
In this regard, the Tamil Nadu State government release confirmed their arrest.
🚨 Press Release – @chennaipolice_ 🚨 https://t.co/BgZiY2MF16 pic.twitter.com/fH4Oz3rJtn
— Hari (@hari_noty) July 1, 2026
TVK leaders pointed out Stalin’s recent remarks: “Elections can come at any time, in three months or six. This is a shaky setup. We do not know at which junction or turning this vehicle is going to lose its balance and come to a sudden halt. Therefore, I am telling you, elections can come at any time. It could happen in three months, or it could happen in six months. We cannot afford to wait for a five-year cycle.”
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP leader Narayanan Tirupathi said, “CM Vijay has engaged in horse-trading with Vaiko. Today, we saw reports that DMK was trying to engage in horse-trading. The entire political landscape of Tamil Nadu is going to the dogs. It is highly condemnable. This is not healthy for democracy.”
Meanwhile, the DMK has filed written complaints with Governor R V Arlekar and the Director of the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), seeking registration of an FIR and a thorough probe into alleged horse-trading attempts by CM Vijay to secure a majority by making Opposition MLAs quit their posts and join TVK.
DMK organising secretary RS Bharati presented a petition to the Tamil Nadu Governor seeking registration of a police complaint and a full-scale investigation into the public admission made by MDMK leader (an erstwhile DMK ally) Vaiko concerning the alleged horse-trading attempt by CM C Joseph Vijay in respect of two DMK MLAs, TM Rajendran of Kadayanallur Assembly constituency and S Senthil Selvan of Sirkazhi constituency, alleging criminal conspiracy, corrupt practices and abuse of public office.
#DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi petitions to #TamilNadu #Governor seeking investigation into the statement of #MDMK leader #Vaiko about horse trading concerning two MLAs. More details here… pic.twitter.com/mklvz9eMK5
— Vijay Kumar S (@vijaythehindu) July 1, 2026
In a seven-page petition, he said, “The speech of Vaiko discloses that when he met CM Vijay a few days before the General Body meeting (in June), the CM discussed with him for more than one hour and suggested that the two MLAs, T M Rajendran and S Senthil Selvan, be induced to resign from their MLA posts, and that he would canvass for them if they contested again in elections.”
Bharati also referred to the resignations of six AIADMK MLAs, of whom four had switched to TVK while the remaining two would be joining soon, and sought action against the CM. He said, “Any failure to register an FIR merely because the allegations concern influential political leaders or constitutional functionaries would erode the rule of law and violate the constitutional guarantee of equality before the law.”
Bharati further said, “Vaiko’s confession prima facie reveals an attempt made by the CM to induce elected members of the Legislative Assembly to resign from their constitutional office in exchange for political and electoral benefits, constituting an act of horse-trading of the electoral process and constitutional scheme.”
The DMK has appealed to the Governor to direct the DVAC to register a case, conduct an impartial and comprehensive investigation in accordance with law, and bring all persons found responsible to justice, including those allegedly involved in the corrupt practice of horse-trading.
Reacting to this, Nirmal Kumar said, “This is an attempt to divert the issue, so they have given a complaint. It is very clear that we have never approached any MLA or asked MLAs from any other party to join us.”
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On DMK Organising Secretary R. S. Bharathi submitting a letter to the Governor against TVK, Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar says, "This is an attempt to divert the issue, so they have given a complaint. It is very clear that we have never approached any MLA or… pic.twitter.com/kpnkmsXRUO
— IANS (@ians_india) July 1, 2026
The DMK alleges that during a meeting at Vijay’s Pattinapakkam residence, the Chief Minister discussed plans to convince the MLAs to step down and allegedly assured them of political support if they re-contested future by-elections, contending that such assurances amount to inducement, criminal conspiracy, abuse of public office, and an attempt to subvert the democratic mandate.
