CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu electricity and law minister R Nirmalkumar on Tuesday denied allegations that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam was indulging in horse-trading. He alleged that DMK was continuing its attempts to lure MLAs.Responding to CPI state secretary M Veerapandian’s remarks on horse-trading, Nirmalkumar said TVK was not trying to poach legislators and could not prevent leaders from other parties from joining it voluntarily. “We are not sure whom he is referring to. But we are not indulging in horse-trading,” he told reporters referring to Veerapandian’s remarks in an interview to TOI. He alleged that the DMK and its leader M K Stalin was still trying to buy MLAs.The minister said horse-trading could only be alleged if money changed hands to secure an MLA’s support, and not when legislators extended support on their own. He accused former minister V Senthil Balaji of indulging in horse-trading, claiming the arrest of people linked to him supported the allegation.Taking a swipe at DMK organisational secretary R S Bharathi for seeking a CBI probe into the alleged horse-trading, Nirmalkumar said Bharathi was writing letters to the agency “for time-pass” and questioned how the CBI could investigate such allegations.He hit back at former AIADMK minister K T Rajenthra Bhalaji for his remark that a TVK govt would come to an end once M K Stalin lost patience. Nirmalkumar said he doubted whether Rajenthra Bhalaji would remain in AIADMK till the local body elections, adding that the party’s organisational strength had weakened in the southern districts.
