DMK Wants Action Against CM For ‘Horse Trading’

Chennai: Demanding the registration of complaints on the admission made by MDMK general secretary Vaiko over Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay attempting to make the two MLAs of his MDMK resign and join the TVK, the DMK alleged that their actions amounted to subverting the democratic process and frustrating the mandate of the people.

In his complaints to the State Governor and the Director of DVAC on Wednesday, DMK organization secretary R S Bharati said that Vaiko had admitted to the horse trading bid by Vijay, who he had asked him to make the two MDMK MLAs, T M Rajendran of Kadayanallur constituency and S Senthil Selvan of Sirkazhi constituency, who actually contested the elections in the ‘Rising Sun’ symbol as DMK candidates, to resign and seek re-election as TVK candidates.

Terming it as criminal conspiracy, corrupt practices and abuse of public office, the DMK alleged that the TVK that had won 108 seats in the elections had been persuading MLAs of other parties to resign and join their party to gain a majority in the House after manoeuvring their way to secure a majority in the vote of confidence.

Bharati said the complaint was being filed pursuant to the open statements of Vaiko in the party’s General Body meeting held in Anna Nagar, Chennai, on Saturday when he expressly admitted to the Chief Minister requesting him to engage in horse trading when he called on him at his residence in Foreshore Estate ahead of the meeting.

The statement and assurance of Vijay to Vaiko amounted to inducement to indulge in horse trading and an interference with the constitutional mandate of elected representatives, warranting immediate registration of a complaint and impartial investigation, he said.

Vaiko had also said that he had called the two MLAs concerned and conveyed the suggestion of the Chief Minister to them though both of them had refused to resign, he said.

Vijay had abused his official position as Chief Minister by assuring Vaiko that if the two MLAs resigned, they will be elected in the subsequent bye-elections and also get monetary assistance. The assurances exposed the criminal intention, warranting the registration of a police complaint and a full-fledged investigation, he said.