Key facts
- TVK MLA claims he was offered Rs 35 crore to defect
- Three persons arrested in connection with the alleged offer
- Former minister V Senthil Balaji named in the matter
- TVK is the party founded by actor-politician Vijay
A TVK MLA has alleged that he was offered Rs 35 crore to defect from the party, sparking a political storm in Tamil Nadu after three individuals were arrested in connection with the alleged offer and former minister V Senthil Balaji was named as a figure in the case. The allegation represents a serious claim of politically motivated horse-trading against a legislator from the party floated by actor-turned-politician Vijay.
TVK — Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam — is a relatively young political outfit that has attracted significant public attention since its formation, making it a natural target for rival political actors seeking to destabilise its legislative presence. An offer of Rs 35 crore to a single MLA, if accurate, would represent an unusually bold and well-funded attempt to peel away support.
The naming of V Senthil Balaji — a former Tamil Nadu cabinet minister who has previously faced legal scrutiny — adds a high-profile dimension to the controversy and is likely to intensify political recriminations across party lines. The arrests suggest that law enforcement agencies have found enough material to act on the MLA's complaint.
The episode draws attention to Tamil Nadu's increasingly volatile political landscape ahead of future electoral cycles, with multiple parties manoeuvring for position. Anti-defection laws govern whether an MLA who accepts such an offer can be disqualified, but the criminal dimension — bribery of a public representative — is a separate and serious legal matter that will now proceed through the courts.