Vijay Accuses DMK Of ‘Party Fund’ Bribes, Cites ED Document In Assembly

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay launched a sharp attack on the ruling DMK in the Assembly on Monday, alleging that government contractors were made to pay between 7.5% and 10% of contract values as “party funds” during the previous DMK regime. Citing an Enforcement Directorate (ED) document, Vijay also raised the alleged “Karur gang” network linked to Tasmac and referred to the Sarkaria Commission report while accusing the DMK of having a long history of corruption.

The allegations triggered a heated confrontation in the Assembly, with DMK MLAs surrounding Speaker JCD Prabhakar’s podium, raising slogans and later staging a walkout.

Vijay Cites ED Document On ‘Party Funds’

Responding to repeated demands from the Opposition for evidence to support his corruption allegations, Vijay said the evidence was contained in an ED document.

He alleged that contractors working on government projects under the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department were required to pay a percentage of their contract value in the name of party funds.

According to Vijay, the ED document referred to collections ranging from 7.5% to 10% of contract values and described these payments as bribes collected in the name of party funds.

Vijay said the money was allegedly collected from contractors handling government works and questioned which party was in power when the alleged collections took place.

“Which party was ruling the government back then? DMK,” he said.

‘Bribe Taken In Instalments Like EMI’

Vijay also referred to a person named Purushotham, whom he said was mentioned in the ED document in connection with an alleged ₹29 lakh bribe.

He claimed the amount was not collected in a single payment but allegedly taken in instalments, comparing the arrangement to paying an EMI on a loan.

The Chief Minister further quoted the ED document as identifying MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ravi Prasad and others as alleged direct beneficiaries of the party funds.

Vijay stressed that the allegations were not made by him but were contained in the ED document.

“These are not allegations made by us. These are allegations in that report, allegations made by the Enforcement Directorate,” he said.

Vijay Raises ‘Karur Gang’ Allegations

Vijay also targeted former minister V Senthil Balaji, alleging that an organised network collected money from Tasmac bar owners and operators in Karur, Coimbatore and other districts.

Referring to the ED document, Vijay said political figures associated with Karur were allegedly collecting money from Tasmac shops and that the group was referred to as the “Karur gang”.

He alleged that the collections ranged from ₹10 to ₹100 from individual Tasmac shops.

Vijay questioned who headed the alleged network and said the reference to the “Karur gang” indicated that the alleged irregularities were organised rather than isolated incidents.

“This was the scientific corruption during the DMK regime,” Vijay said.

Sarkaria Commission Report Also Invoked

The Chief Minister also brought up the Sarkaria Commission report while attacking the DMK over alleged corruption during its earlier terms in power.

Referring to the commission’s findings concerning the Veeranam water supply scheme, Vijay claimed the report mentioned an alleged demand for 2.5% as party funds in connection with a ₹16-crore tender.

He also referred to the issue being raised in 2001 by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and former minister C Ponnaiyan.

Vijay used the references to argue that allegations of corruption involving the DMK dated back several decades.

DMK MLAs Stage Walkout After Assembly Ruckus

Vijay’s allegations led to a confrontation inside the Assembly, with DMK legislators strongly objecting to his remarks.

The MLAs gathered around Speaker JCD Prabhakar’s podium, raised slogans and entered the well of the House before eventually walking out.

Udhayanidhi Accuses Vijay Of Diversion

Outside the Assembly, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin hit back at Vijay, accusing the Chief Minister of using “diversionary tactics” instead of responding to the Opposition’s questions.

Udhayanidhi alleged that Vijay had failed to address questions concerning the state’s law and order situation, including recent daylight murders.

He also accused the Chief Minister of protecting a “shadow cartel” allegedly operated by his close aides to monopolise mining contracts in the state.

Describing Vijay’s Assembly speech as a “memorised cinema script”, Udhayanidhi said the Chief Minister had shifted the discussion to decades-old matters, including the Sarkaria Commission report, while reading out pending ED allegations against Opposition leaders.

Udhayanidhi also criticised the Speaker, alleging that he had acted in a partisan manner and deliberately prevented the Opposition from responding to the Chief Minister’s allegations.