Chennai:
Was there a conspiracy to topple the Viai-led TMC government in Tamil Nadu? The State Intelligence Department said it had foiled an alleged plot to destabilize the TCE government less than two months after it took power.
The conspiracy was allegedly to orchestrate the simultaneous resignation of 15 TVK MLAs to topple the government, sources said.
Based on the TVK MLA’s complaint, officials launched an investigation and arrested an employee of the consulting firm. During the investigation, officials reportedly established links with DMK MLA Senthil Balaji. Two more people were arrested and questioned.
The first arrest was made in Chennai while the other two were detained in Karur. Officials are investigating the alleged conspiracy and its wider network.
MFP was offered Rs 35 crore: complaint
The matter came to light after TVK MLA from Uthangarai, N Elaiyaraja, lodged a complaint with the Chennai police. He alleged that a person from the consulting firm IPDS had offered him Rs 35 crore in support of the no-confidence motion against Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker J K D Prabhakar, a TVK leader. The MLA also said that he was later intimidated and told not to discuss the proposal with anyone.
Sources told NDTV that one of the arrested is close to Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok.
TVK Minister criticized DMK
Tamil Nadu CT Minister Nirmal Kumar criticized the DMK over the alleged conspiracy. “Persons directly associated with Senthil Balaji, as well as members of the so-called Karur gang, are directly involved in this case. The police should take legal action and arrest everyone involved. They must stop such nefarious activities,” Kumar said.
The minister also accused the DMK of conspiring with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami to topple the Vijay-led government. He alleged that several TVK MLAs were offered money to escape.
“Edappadi Palaniswami and others tried to form the government through behind-the-scenes methods. Today we are seeing a manifestation of this. Key DMK figures like Senthil Balaji, acting on the orders of MP Stalin and Udhayanidhi, contacted many of our MLAs. They offered amounts of Rs 10 crore, Rs 20 crore or even Rs 50 crore. There is not a single MLA they have not done. was getting closer,” Kumar said.
DMK: “TVK creates a narrative”
MQM accused TVK of disclosing details of the ongoing investigation. “TVK simply wants to create public opinion by revealing details of the investigation. This shows that they have few facts and only want to create a narrative,” DMK spokesperson A Saravanan told NDTV.
He urged the TMC government to arrest Senthil Balaji if he has concrete evidence.
Vijay and Senthil Balaji have a bitter relationship. The former DMK minister belongs to Karur, who witnessed a stampede during an election rally in Vijay. Vijay then accused Balaji of conspiring to create a stampede to discredit him. Balaji denied the allegations.