DMK asks DVAC to investigate alleged offer to poach its MLA

The DMK on Wednesday urged Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar to order the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to investigate what it described as an alleged criminal conspiracy involving Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko to force the resignation of two “DMK” MLAs through corrupt and illegal means.

In his complaint, DMK organizing secretary RS Bharathi alleged that TM Rajendran, MLA from Kadayanallur, and R. Senthilselvan, MLA from Sirkazhi, were forced to resign from their seats in the Assembly. Although both originally belonged to the MDMK, they contested the 2026 parliamentary elections on the rising sun symbol of the DMK.

“The action of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Mr. Vaiko amounts to subverting the democratic process and thwarting the people’s mandate,” Mr. Bharathi said.

He pointed out that the two legislators contested as DMK-sponsored candidates after filing their nomination papers in Form AA signed by the DMK president and Form BB signed by the party’s general secretary.

Mr. Bharathi further alleged that the TVK government, since assuming office in May 2026, had been persuading legislators elected on symbols of other parties to resign and join the ruling party.

Referring to a speech allegedly delivered by Mr. Vaiko at his party’s general meeting, Mr. Bharathi said the MDMK leader had admitted that Mr. Vijay had asked him to persuade the two MLAs to resign. “Mr. Vaik’s speech, a copy of which was enclosed on disc, reveals that during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence in Pattinapakkam, the Chief Minister discussed the issue with him for more than an hour and suggested that TM Rajendran and R. Senthilselvan must be convinced to resign from the assembly. He also promised them that on the basis of the complaint, he promised to protest.”

Mr. Bharathi said the alleged assurance amounted to an inducement to trade by elected representatives. He also alleged that Mr. Vaiko subsequently summoned both the MLAs before a high-level committee meeting of his party and forwarded the Chief Minister’s proposal.

The complaint also related to the resignation of several AIADMK MLAs who later joined the TVK. While acknowledging that each case may have different factual circumstances, Mr. Bharathi argued that the model warranted an independent inquiry into whether there had been a systematic attempt to change the composition of the legislature through negotiated resignations rather than through a constitutional electoral process.

Referring to the governor, he said that as the constitutional head of the state, he could not remain indifferent to the allegations. “Please do not turn a blind eye to the blatant horse-trading and corrupt practices allegedly being perpetrated by the ruling party and the Prime Minister, thereby undermining constitutional morality and democratic values,” he said.

Published – 02 Jul 2026 0:50 IST