This whole TVK-AIADMK fight is getting more heated now,and K.A. Sengottaiyan has clearly tried to shut down horse-trading talk before it grows bigger . And honestly,when leaders start switching sides,these allegations come almost automatically in politics.
K.A. Sengottaiyan,the Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister,was responding after former AIADMK MLA S. Jayakumar formally joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) . Rival parties have been accusing TVK of pulling leaders from their side,but Sengottaiyan is saying there is no such underhanded game happening .
Speaking to reporters in Perundurai,he said,"We have no need for horse-trading . Jayakumar and others who joined us did so after resigning from their previous positions. The TVK stands firm on its own merits and has gained the people's trust through our governance."
And tbh,this is classic political damage control also . One side says leaders are being lured,the other side says people are joining because public mood has changed . Truth usually sits somewhere in middle only.
Few things standing out in this whole episode:
- TVK says its growth is due to public support and not inducements.
- Sengottaiyan pointed to internal dissatisfaction in AIADMK.
- Government says it will respond when issue comes up in Tamil Nadu Assembly .
But Sengottaiyan did not stop at just denying horse-trading . He also suggested that many AIADMK members are unhappy with recent political developments and current direction of party,which is why some may be looking toward TVK now.
He also said government is ready to answer these allegations in Tamil Nadu Assembly when matter is raised there . That part feels like TVK wants to show it is not scared of opposition attack,at least publicly .
Then another issue came in same interaction — opposition demand for all-party meeting on proposed Mekedatu dam project in Karnataka . Sengottaiyan said TVK government has recently taken office but is already acting to protect Tamil Nadu's interests.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has submitted representations to Union Government on different issues,including Mekedatu project and welfare of Tamil Nadu fishermen . So TVK is trying to project itself as active both on political attacks and state issues.
Still,this whole thing leaves one question hanging… are these leaders joining TVK because of real political belief,or because Tamil Nadu politics is shifting again in ways people outside party rooms cannot fully see yet…
