Tamil Nadu Horse-Trading Plot? MLA Alleges INR 35 Crore Bribe Offer to Influence Assembly Vote

An alleged high-stakes political horse-trading plot has emerged in Tamil Nadu after a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) filed a complaint claiming he was offered a INR 35 crore bribe to influence his vote on an upcoming legislative resolution. Following the allegations, Greater Chennai Police registered a case and arrested three individuals connected to the suspected conspiracy. The complaint, filed on June 29, 2026, by MLA N. Elaiyaraja, details a calculated effort to manipulate voting patterns regarding a proposed resolution against the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

The INR 35 Crore Offer and Alleged Threats

According to police officials, the investigation began after Elaiyaraja approached the Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai. The MLA stated that an individual identified as Thirunavukkarasu contacted him under the guise of running an opinion polling organization called Indian Political Democratic Strategies (IPDS). Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Mimics MK Stalin’s Viral Hand Gesture in Assembly; Video of ‘Thalapathy’ Takes Over Social Media – WATCH.

Thirunavukkarasu allegedly claimed he was reaching out at the request of prominent members of a major political party. The interaction quickly shifted from data gathering to financial inducement, with the accused offering Elaiyaraja up to Rs 35 crore to vote a specific way on the legislative resolution. The MLA further alleged that when he refused the multi-crore offer, he received direct threats warning him against disclosing the conversation to anyone.

Police Move Swiftly: Three Suspects Arrested

Following the formal complaint, authorities registered a case at the D1 Triplicane Police Station. A targeted operation led to the quick arrest of three suspects accused of executing the conspiracy:

• Thirunavukkarasu of Arumbakkam, Chennai (the primary contact)

• Naresh of Tiruchirappalli

• Thiyagarajan of Medavakkam, Chennai

All three are currently being interrogated by police to uncover the full scale of the operation and identify any additional handlers. Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Takes a Surprise Bus Ride After Launching 300 New Government Buses in Chennai; WATCH Viral Video.

Deepening Conspiracy: The Senthil Balaji Connection

The investigation has taken a highly sensitive political turn as links surface connecting the accused to prominent figures. According to details within the police complaint, further inquiry revealed that V. Ashok Kumar—the brother of current Coimbatore South MLA and former DMK minister V. Senthil Balaji—had previously met with the accused Naresh in Chennai.

The complaint explicitly states that Thirunavukkarasu was acting on instructions allegedly linked back to both V. Senthil Balaji and V. Ashok Kumar. Police officials have emphasized that the investigation into these high-profile connections is ongoing, and they are verifying the electronic records and movements of the accused.

A Shifting Political Landscape in Tamil Nadu

This scandal breaks during a highly transformative period for state politics. The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections marked a historic realignment, breaking the decades-long, alternating dominance of the DMK and AIADMK blocs.

The political newcomer Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) secured a historic debut victory by winning 108 seats, making actor-turned-politician Vijay the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In this highly competitive environment, the alleged attempt to manipulate assembly votes has heightened tensions across party lines. Authorities state that further updates will follow as forensic data and financial trails are examined.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 01, 2026 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).