Madurai, 06 Nov (H.S.):

The Madurai Central Crime Branch police are questioning senior AIADMK functionary and former Deputy Mayor P.M. Mannan in connection with allegations that opposition parties attempted to lure ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) legislators into supporting a no-confidence motion against the Tamil Nadu government.

The investigation follows allegations made by TVK's Madurai Central MLA Madhar Badhurudeen, popularly known as Mustafa, who claimed that AIADMK functionaries had offered him ₹15 crore to vote against the government if a no-confidence motion was introduced in the Assembly.

Speaking to reporters on November 4, Mustafa alleged that he had received telephone calls promising substantial financial inducements in exchange for withdrawing support from the government.

The legislator said he had informed the TVK leadership about the alleged attempts and asserted that no party MLA would defect even if offered ₹100 crore.

Mustafa is reportedly preparing to submit audio recordings of the alleged conversations to investigators and make them public.

Meanwhile, senior TVK leader and Minister R. Nirmalkumar accused the opposition DMK and AIADMK of jointly attempting to destabilise the Vijay-led government by engineering defections.

The Minister alleged that offers ranging from ₹60 crore to ₹70 crore were being made to ruling-party legislators. He further claimed that financial transactions involving hawala networks connected to the alleged operation were emerging in Bengaluru.

However, these allegations have not been independently established.

Mannan, who is being questioned in connection with the controversy, joined the AIADMK in February 2026 after a long association with the DMK.

A former Madurai Deputy Mayor, he was considered a close associate of former Union Minister M.K. Alagiri.

The controversy has intensified political tensions in Tamil Nadu, with allegations of horse-trading raising questions about attempts to undermine the ruling coalition's legislative majority.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman