Plea in SC seeks CBI probe into alleged horse-trading behind Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government

A petition in the Supreme Court has sought a CBI probe into alleged horse-trading involving C Joseph Vijay's party after four former AIADMK MLAs joined the ruling TVK. The plea also seeks rules to curb post-election defections and political inducements

New Delhi: A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe against the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) general secretary and four others, who joined the ruling party in Tamil Nadu after resigning as AIADMK MLAs, for alleged horse-trading to form the C Joseph Vijay-led government in the state.

The plea filed by M Srinivasan sought a direction to the CBI to register a case against TVK general secretary N Anand alias Bussy N Anand and four former AIADMK MLAs K Maragatham Kumaravel (Maduranthakam Assembly constituency), S Jayakumar (Perundurai), P Sathyabama (Dharapuram) and Esakki Subaya (Ambasamudram) who resigned as MLAs and joined the TVK on May 25 and 26.

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The plea filed through advocate Achintya Tiwari sought a direction to the CBI to complete the investigation and file a report within a time fixed by the court.

It prayed to the court to exercise the plenary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to frame specific rules for preventing horse-trading after elections with regard to candidates who have either been disqualified by the Speaker or those who have resigned from the Assembly without any valid, material and justifiable reason.

The petitioner also prayed for grant of an injunction against the four former AIADMK MLAs from contesting the by-elections either independently or with the support of any political parties till rules are framed by the court.

“Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction thereby directing the Respondent No.3 (Central Bureau of Investigation) to register the case against the respondents Nos. 07 to 11 herein for allegedly indulging in the horse trading to prove the majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and further direct to conduct the investigation and to file final report within time fixed by this Court,” the plea said.

On May 10, actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with a pledge that “a new era of real, secular, social justice starts now”.

The ascent of Vijay to the top job marks a significant realignment and a historic political shift in the state after his TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the recent elections, shattering the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in the state.

Although TVK on its own did not secure the majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, Vijay managed to get support from the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI (M) and IUML to gather 120 MLAs and cross the 118 mark to form the government, an act seen as a demonstration of his political adaptability beyond his image as a popular actor.

On May 13, the TVK government in Tamil Nadu crossed a major hurdle by comfortably winning the trust vote with the support of 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs amid a walkout by the DMK. The Opposition made allegations of horse-trading that were rejected by Vijay.