Tamil Nadu Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan on Sunday, 5 July flatly rejected opposition allegations that the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government was engineering political defections, insisting the alliance commands a comfortable majority and has no incentive to poach legislators from rival parties. The minister made the remarks in Erode, a day after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) accused the TVK government of using police pressure and money to lure MLAs.

Minister's Rebuttal

Addressing reporters, Sengottaiyan called the horse-trading allegations 'baseless' and said the government was stable, transparent, and backed by an 'overwhelming public mandate.' 'There is absolutely no truth to these allegations. We have formed a strong and stable government, and our alliance partners continue to extend their full support. There is no need for horse-trading,' he said.

He pointed to the continued backing of key coalition partners — the Indian National Congress (Congress), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) — as evidence of the ruling front's durability.

Sengottaiyan Turns the Tables on DMK

The minister went further, alleging that it was the DMK that had historically introduced and normalised political defections in Tamil Nadu. He cited the reported case of former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Anita R. Radhakrishnan, who he claimed was persuaded to switch sides under a previous DMK government. 'Those who once ran a minority government with only 96 MLAs may have needed horse-trading. We do not. Our government has been formed on the strength of the people's mandate,' Sengottaiyan said.

Governor's Review Meeting and Karur Stampede Row

On the controversy surrounding Governor R.N. Ravi's recent review meeting — which opposition leaders have described as a constitutional overreach — Sengottaiyan declined to comment in detail, noting that the state Law Minister had already presented the government's position.

The minister also addressed criticism over remarks linked to the Karur stampede, in which references to 'settling accounts' had drawn sharp opposition fire. He said the statement had been misread and was meant only to assure bereaved families of justice and legal protection. The controversy has since reached the Supreme Court, where the DMK has sought directions restraining Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and other TVK leaders over what the party described as 'false and inflammatory statements' regarding the stampede, which claimed 41 lives.

Ration Shop Inauguration in Erode

Earlier on Sunday, Sengottaiyan inaugurated a new ration shop at Karattadipalayam in Erode district, constructed at a cost of ₹16 lakh from the MLA Constituency Development Fund. The facility is expected to serve 710 ration card holders in the area.

What's Next

With the Supreme Court now seized of the Karur stampede controversy and the DMK keeping up pressure on multiple fronts, the political temperature in Tamil Nadu is unlikely to ease soon. The TVK government's ability to hold its coalition together — and to counter the DMK's narrative — will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.