The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) said it will seek a CBI probe if the ruling TVK party continues inducing its lawmakers to defect.
The threat follows a series of resignations that threaten the stability of the opposition party in the Tamil Nadu legislature. These allegations of horse-trading suggest a volatile shift in the regional power balance, as the ruling party seeks to consolidate its majority.
Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy, the AIADMK whip, said the party is losing patience with the continued attacks. The AIADMK has already submitted a petition to the Tamil Nadu Governor seeking a CBI inquiry [2].
The tension escalated after four AIADMK MLAs resigned from the party to join the TVK [1]. This move has led to accusations that the ruling party is systematically targeting opposition members to weaken the AIADMK's legislative presence.
The AIADMK alleges that the TVK is using inducements to trigger these defections. Because these activities have led to direct resignations, the party argues that a federal investigation is necessary to uncover the nature of the incentives offered to the lawmakers.
The ruling TVK party, led by minister Aadhav Arjuna, has not yet provided a formal response to the specific claims of horse-trading. However, the AIADMK maintains that it will escalate its legal and administrative challenges if the current trend of defections does not cease.
“The AIADMK will seek a CBI probe into alleged horse-trading of its MLAs by TVK if such activities continue.”
The demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe indicates a breakdown in trust between the AIADMK and the TVK. By involving a federal agency and the Governor, the AIADMK is attempting to move the conflict from a political skirmish to a legal battle over electoral integrity. If the CBI accepts the case, it could lead to criminal investigations into the ruling party's recruitment tactics.
