TVK MLA alleges Rs 30 crore offer to vote against govt

Chennai: In a sensational allegation that has triggered a political controversy in Tamil Nadu, ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLA Mustafa on Wednesday claimed that he was offered Rs 30 crore to vote against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay in a proposed no-confidence motion in the Assembly.

Speaking to reporters at Madurai airport, Mustafa alleged that the opposition DMK and AIADMK were secretly working together to destabilise the TVK government by attempting to lure ruling party legislators with huge financial inducements.

According to Mustafa, he received a telephone call offering him Rs 15 crore in advance and another Rs 15 crore after voting against the government. “The caller told me to accept Rs 15 crore initially and promised another Rs 15 crore after I voted against the government when a no-confidence motion was introduced in the Assembly,” he alleged.

The MLA claimed that a senior AIADMK functionary from Madurai had contacted him in connection with the alleged deal. He said he had already informed the TVK leadership about the attempted inducement.

Accusing the two opposition parties of resorting to horse-trading, Mustafa alleged that they were trying to overturn the people’s electoral mandate after failing to prevent the

TVK’s victory in the Assembly elections.

“The DMK and AIADMK could not defeat us through elections. They are now attempting to bring down a democratically elected government by purchasing legislators,” he charged.

Mustafa asserted that TVK legislators would remain loyal to Vijay’s leadership and claimed that even an offer of Rs 100 crore would not persuade them to defect.

He also claimed that the identities of those involved in the alleged operation would be revealed within two days.

Referring to the Assembly elections, Mustafa said the DMK had contested with the support of 35 parties, while the AIADMK had struggled to secure allies. In contrast, he claimed, the TVK had created history by securing 35 per cent of the votes without entering into an electoral alliance and subsequently forming the government.

The allegations have introduced a fresh controversy into Tamil Nadu politics, raising questions about possible attempts to destabilise the government.

However, Mustafa’s claims remain unverified, and no independent evidence supporting the alleged financial offer was presented during his interaction with reporters.

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The Hans India