AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami alleged that lawmakers were offered cash and ministerial positions to support Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
The accusations surface during a critical trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. If proven, these claims of inducements could trigger legal challenges regarding the legitimacy of the government's majority.
Palaniswami said that MLAs were lured with cash and ministerial berths [1]. He said that Vijay formed the TVK government by luring some members with promises of ministerial berths, and board appointments [2]. These inducements were allegedly intended to secure enough support to pass the confidence motion for the Chief Minister's administration [1], [2].
Reports indicate that 25 MLAs backed the Vijay government [3]. This shift in loyalty has created a rift within the AIADMK, as the party leader faces a challenge to his authority as the legislature party leader [3].
Not all party members agree with the General Secretary's assessment. Rebel MLA C.V. Shanmugam contested the allegations and said that Palaniswami has no such idea [2].
The floor test took place on Wednesday in the state assembly [1]. The proceedings highlighted the instability within the opposition ranks as the ruling party sought to solidify its hold on power through the confidence vote [1], [3].
“MLAs were lured with cash and ministerial berths.”
The allegations of 'horse-trading'—the practice of exchanging money or positions for political support—point to a volatile period of coalition politics in Tamil Nadu. The defiance of rebel MLAs against the AIADMK leadership suggests that the party is struggling with internal fragmentation, which may weaken its ability to act as a cohesive opposition against the TVK government.
