AIADMK MP Dhanapal demands CBI inquiry into defection of MLAs to Vijay's TVK; alleges bribery

AIADMK MP M Dhanapal on Thursday demanded a CBI probe into the resignation of four newly elected MLAs of his party who joined the ruling TVK immediately after quitting as legislators this week.

According to Dhanapal, a large sum of money was exchanged behind their resignation.

In a post on X, he said, "The background behind the four MLAs resigning immediately after taking the oath as MLAs should be investigated."

Their joining the ruling party came when the TVK lacked a majority on its own in the Assembly, and it (TVK) was unable to ruin the AIADMK, he alleged.

"There's information that there was an exchange of huge sums of money. The Centre should order a CBI probe to safeguard democracy. The Enforcement Directorate should devote its attention to this incident," Dhanapal added.

His appeal comes a day after the AIADMK factions patched up with the rebel camp led by S P Velumani agreeing to accept the leadership of party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and function as a "united and strong force."

The rebel MLAs called on Palaniswami at his Greenways Road residence here on May 27 and expressed their support for him.

Earlier this week, K Maragatham Kumaravel (Maduranthakam Assembly constituency), S Jayakumar (Perundurai), P Sathyabama (Dharapuram) and Esakki Subaya (Ambasamudram) resigned as MLAs and joined the TVK, triggering an intense debate among political parties in the state.

The CPI(M) and VCK criticised the development, calling it "not a healthy politics".

(With PTI inputs)