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The latest move comes amid the TVK government’s broader anti-corruption campaign against the previous DMK government.
Tamil Nadu Chief MInister Vijay and DMK Chief MK Stalin. File photo: PTI
TVK vs DMK: The Joseph Vijay-led TVK government in Tamil Nadu has stepped up its anti-corruption drive against the previous DMK regime, with senior ministers urging the Governor to clear pending prosecution proposals against former ministers over allegations of corruption.
According to media reports, citing sources, Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmalkumar and Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and sought an early decision on requests for sanction to prosecute former DMK ministers and officials.
Among the key cases discussed was the Directorate of Enforcement’s request to prosecute former Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji in the alleged cash-for-jobs scam. The TVK government had forwarded a formal proposal to the Governor around three weeks ago seeking approval for the prosecution, sources said.
They added that similar proposals against several other former ministers and officials from the previous DMK government are also awaiting the Governor’s clearance.
However, Raj Bhavan described the meetings as separate courtesy calls. In separate statements, it said Assembly Speaker J C D Prabhakar thanked the Governor for addressing the inaugural sitting of the Assembly session, while the two ministers also paid courtesy visits. The statements made no reference to discussions on pending prosecution proposals.
The latest move comes amid the TVK government’s broader anti-corruption campaign against the previous DMK government.
Former Public Works and Highways Minister E V Velu has already come under the scanner after the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) conducted searches at multiple locations in connection with alleged irregularities in road infrastructure projects based on a complaint filed in 2022 by anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam.
Velu has dismissed the searches as political vendetta, while the TVK government has maintained that the action was based on evidence submitted by the complainant.
Senthil Balaji has also faced criticism from the TVK government over alleged recruitment irregularities during his tenure as Electricity Minister, allegations he has denied, claiming the previous DMK government had substantially reduced the financial losses of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board and that recruitment processes were delayed due to the model code of conduct.
The push for prosecution comes as political rivalry between the ruling TVK and the opposition DMK intensifies, with both parties accusing each other of political vendetta and corruption.
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Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degre…Read More
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