DMK seeks DVAC probe into alleged bid to poach its MLAs

The DMK on Wednesday urged Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar to order an inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) into what it described as an alleged criminal conspiracy involving Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and MDMK general secretary Vaiko to induce two “DMK” MLAs to resign through corrupt and illegal means.

In his complaint, DMK organisation secretary R.S. Bharathi alleged that T.M. Rajendran, MLA from Kadayanallur, and R. Senthilselvan, MLA from Sirkazhi, were induced to resign from their Assembly seats. Though both originally belonged to the MDMK, they had contested the 2026 Assembly election on the DMK’s Rising Sun symbol.

“The actions of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Mr. Vaiko amount to subverting the democratic process and frustrating the mandate of the people,” Mr. Bharathi said.

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

Mr. Bharathi further alleged that since assuming office in May 2026, the TVK government had been persuading legislators elected on the 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 council meeting, Mr. Bharathi said the MDMK leader had admitted that Mr. Vijay requested him to persuade the two MLAs to resign. “Mr. Vaiko’s speech, a copy of which has been enclosed in a pen drive, reveals that during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence in Pattinapakkam, the Chief Minister discussed the issue with him for over an hour and suggested that T.M. Rajendran and R. Senthilselvan must be persuaded to resign from the Assembly. He also promised that he would campaign for them if they contested the subsequent bypolls,” the complaint stated.

Mr. Bharathi said the alleged assurance amounted to an inducement to horse-trading of elected representatives. He also alleged that Mr. Vaiko had subsequently summoned the two MLAs before his party’s high-level committee meeting and conveyed the Chief Minister’s proposal.

The complaint also referred to the resignation of several AIADMK MLAs who later joined the TVK. While acknowledging that each case might have different factual circumstances, Mr. Bharathi argued that the pattern warranted an independent investigation into whether there had been a systematic attempt to alter the composition of the Legislative Assembly through negotiated resignations rather than through the constitutional electoral process.

Appealing 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 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.