World · India Bureau
Tamil Nadu politician Dhinakaran lodges complaint with Governor over alleged defections
AIADMK faction leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran has petitioned Karnataka Governor Arlekar, raising concerns about alleged attempts to poach legislators through inducements. The representation highlights ongoing political tensions within Tamil Nadu's ruling establishment.
LSN India ·
T.T.V. Dhinakaran, a prominent faction leader within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), has formally approached Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot with allegations of systematic efforts to destabilise his political group through the defection of party members.
The representation reportedly details claims that legislators and party functionaries have been approached with financial incentives and ministerial positions in exchange for switching their allegiance. Such practices, colloquially referred to as "horse trading" in Indian political discourse, have long been a flashpoint for factional disputes within regional parties.
The move underscores deepening fissures within the AIADMK, which remains fractured following leadership disputes in recent years. Dhinakaran's faction has previously contested allegations of anti-defection violations, positioning itself as the victim of poaching attempts rather than the perpetrator.
Governor Arlekar's intervention signals heightened official scrutiny of the situation. The petition is likely to intensify focus on whether existing anti-defection laws are being adequately enforced by state authorities overseeing Tamil Nadu's political landscape.
The representation comes amid broader instability affecting several Indian states, where minority governments have repeatedly faced threats from sudden legislative defections.