Political commentator and IPDS functionary Thirunavukkarasu, who had earlier dismissed Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s political prospects and predicted that the TVK would fail to emerge as a lasting political force, has now been arrested in connection with an alleged conspiracy to poach TVK MLAs as part of an attempt to destabilise the state government.
The case has assumed political significance after the Tamil Nadu Police reportedly alleged that the operation was carried out at the behest of former DMK minister Senthil Balaji, with several intermediaries and political brokers allegedly involved in the conspiracy.
Earlier Remarks Against Vijay
Before the 2026 Assembly election, Thirunavukkarasu, who identified himself as a former Loyola College student while presenting his political assessment, had predicted that Vijay would not even secure 15% of the vote.
Drawing comparisons with former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), he argued that Vijay could never command similar public support.
According to Thirunavukkarasu, MGR and Vijay belonged to entirely different political contexts, and the crowds attending Vijay’s meetings were merely the result of his film popularity rather than ideological conviction or political awareness.
He claimed that Vijay’s supporters lacked political understanding and long-term vision, describing the crowds as temporary and comparing them to floodwaters that disappear as quickly as they arrive. He further predicted that the TVK would eventually become an insignificant political party in Tamil Nadu.
He also questioned claims that the public viewed Vijay as another MGR, stating that such comparisons were largely made only by Vijay’s own supporters and not by the general public. Referring to opinion surveys, he asserted that only a small percentage believed Vijay could become another MGR, while many either disagreed or remained undecided.
During the same discussion, Thirunavukkarasu also remarked that awareness about the “Dravidian Model” remained weak among young people and women, including in Periyar’s native Erode district, and claimed that understanding of Dravidian ideology was largely confined to party cadres rather than the general public.
However, according to the report, Vijay subsequently won the election with a vote share exceeding the 15% prediction made by Thirunavukkarasu, rendering his political assessment incorrect.
Alleged MLA Poaching Conspiracy
According to the Tamil Nadu Police, Thirunavukkarasu later became involved in an alleged attempt to topple the Vijay-led government by approaching TVK legislators with financial inducements.
Police allege that he contacted TVK MLA Dr. Ilaiyaraja, representing Uthangarai constituency in Krishnagiri district, and informed him that the opposition intended to move a no-confidence motion against the Speaker during an upcoming Assembly session.
Investigators claim that Thirunavukkarasu allegedly offered the MLA up to ₹35 crore in exchange for voting in favour of the opposition during the proposed motion.
When Dr. Ilaiyaraja reportedly refused the offer and stated that he would remain loyal to Chief Minister Vijay, Thirunavukkarasu allegedly threatened him, warning that revealing the offer would endanger both his life and the lives of his family members.
Arrests And Expanding Investigation
Based on the complaint lodged by Dr. Ilaiyaraja, Triplicane police arrested Thirunavukkarasu.
During the investigation, police subsequently arrested political brokers Naresh of Tiruchirappalli and Thiagarajan of Medavakkam based on information allegedly provided by Thirunavukkarasu.
Further investigation led officers to question Karur Karthi and Adhipar Ramesh, who operates the Karur Sakthi Mess restaurant.
According to the police investigation, former DMK minister Senthil Balaji’s brother Ashok Kumar allegedly played a direct role in the MLA poaching operation, acting on behalf of Senthil Balaji.
Investigators reportedly found that Ashok Kumar had met Naresh in Chennai and allegedly stated that they were prepared to spend “any amount of money” required to bring TVK MLAs into their camp.
Police further allege that Thirunavukkarasu approached TVK legislators on the instructions of Senthil Balaji and Ashok Kumar, both before the formation of the Vijay government and after it assumed office, with the amounts allegedly offered increasing over time in an effort to persuade legislators to defect.
Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar Levels Political Allegations
Commenting on the investigation, Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar alleged that DMK president M.K. Stalin had repeatedly claimed in public that the TVK government would collapse within 30 days because those involved believed TVK legislators would eventually switch sides.
The minister further alleged that several TVK MLAs had informed the government that they had received offers ranging from ₹30 crore to ₹50 crore in exchange for supporting a proposed no-confidence motion against the Speaker. He also claimed that some legislators had been threatened after refusing the offers, and that one such threatened MLA had formally lodged a police complaint.
According to the report, the police are continuing their investigation to determine how many TVK MLAs may have been approached as part of the alleged conspiracy.
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