An alleged conspiracy to topple the C Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government has resurfaced, with claims that a group backed by two major Dravidian parties is attempting to poach ruling party MLAs by offering as much as ₹50 crore each. The alleged operation, reportedly codenamed ‘Operation Meghalaya 2.0’, is said to have earmarked ₹1,000 crore for the political manoeuvre, with 25 TVK MLAs allegedly approached so far, as reported in Junior Vikatan.
The latest allegations emerged after Madurai Central TVK MLA Madar Badhurudeen, popularly known as Mustafa, claimed that he had been offered ₹15 crore to vote against the Vijay government. Following his complaint, Madurai police arrested Mannan, an AIADMK functionary, and questioned him and Mustafa’s assistant Kaniraja. Mannan was subsequently released following a court order.
The episode has brought the alleged horse-trading operation back into the spotlight, with senior police officials claiming that attempts to destabilise the TVK government have continued despite an earlier operation being exposed.
From Operation Meghalaya to 2.0
This is not the first time allegations of attempts to topple the TVK government through horse-trading have surfaced.
In June 2026, Uthangarai TVK MLA Ilaiyaraja complained to Chennai police that he had been offered ₹35 crore to vote against the government. Following his complaint, Triplicane police registered a case and arrested 14 people, including Thirunavukkarasu, who was running an opinion polling agency.
Former DMK minister Senthil Balaji and his brother Ashok Kumar were also named in connection with the case and secured anticipatory bail. They subsequently appeared before the Triplicane police station as required by the bail conditions.
The accused later approached the Madras High Court seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged horse-trading operation. Hearing the petition, the High Court imposed an interim stay on the investigation into Ilaiyaraja’s complaint. The stay has since been extended until 23 November 2026.
It is against this backdrop that the latest allegations have emerged.
According to senior IPS officers quoted in the report, the operation was named ‘Operation Meghalaya’ after the political manoeuvring that followed the 2018 Meghalaya Assembly election.
In that election, the Congress emerged as the single largest party with 21 seats and attempted to form the government with the support of regional parties. However, the BJP, which had won just two seats, joined hands with the National People’s Party (19 seats), the United Democratic Party (six seats) and other parties to form a coalition government. The Congress subsequently accused the BJP of engineering the political realignment through extensive negotiations and inducements.
The alleged operation targeting the TVK government was reportedly modelled on those political manoeuvres. Although the first attempt failed after the authorities became aware of the alleged conspiracy and several people were arrested, the network is now said to have regrouped under the name ‘Operation Meghalaya 2.0’.
₹50 Crore per MLA, 25 MLAs Allegedly Targeted
According to the senior police officers, the alleged operation has now raised its offer from ₹35 crore to ₹50 crore per TVK MLA willing to vote against the government.
Unlike the previous attempt, when WhatsApp conversations and telephone calls reportedly exposed the operation, the alleged network is now said to be conducting negotiations through direct, face-to-face meetings.
The operation is reportedly being coordinated by a team from Karur, with financial intermediaries from the district allegedly handling the funds.
The targets are said to be TVK MLAs who have connections with the State’s two major Dravidian parties. Their personal assistants and relatives are allegedly being used to establish contact and persuade them to switch sides.
The pitch reportedly involves convincing the MLAs that the Vijay government will not survive and that they may not receive party tickets in the next election. Even if they are renominated, they are allegedly told that they may not win. In return for cooperating with the operation, they are promised enough money to secure their financial future.
Police sources claim that approximately 25 TVK MLAs have been approached so far.
The alleged operation is not limited to political intermediaries. Two priests associated with a traditional arts college in Chennai are also alleged to be involved. Both are reportedly sympathisers of one of the major Dravidian parties and have allegedly approached four TVK MLAs.
They are said to be attempting to persuade the legislators by arguing that the continuation of the TVK government would not be beneficial for Tamil Nadu and that their loyalty should be towards the people rather than the party.
Senior police officials further claim that ₹1,000 crore has been earmarked for the alleged operation, with Karur-based financiers managing the funds.
They are also reportedly examining the movements of a former minister who allegedly met an important political leader at the latter’s residence in Teynampet, Chennai, on October 21. According to the police sources, the alleged conspiracy gained momentum following this meeting.
December 13 Deadline: No-Confidence Move Being Planned?
The alleged political manoeuvring is reportedly aimed at a crucial legislative showdown in December.
A senior minister in the TVK government claimed that Chief Minister Vijay had secured a majority during the confidence vote held on 13 May 2026. The government had subsequently drawn confidence from the TVK’s victories in two by-elections, believing that the opposition would not attempt another immediate challenge.
However, the minister alleged that the two major Dravidian parties had now joined hands to bring down the government.
He further claimed that representatives of one of the Dravidian parties had recently met a senior BJP functionary in Madurai and sought the party’s assistance in destabilising the TVK government.
The alleged proposal was to persuade the Governor to direct another floor test. In return, the representatives reportedly offered support to the BJP in Parliament for any legislation brought forward by the Union government.
According to the minister, the plan is to initiate a no-confidence motion against the Vijay government after December 13, following the completion of the Guru Peyarchi period.
The opposition is reportedly planning to make law and order and women’s safety the central issues in the proposed legislative challenge.
The TVK currently has 109 MLAs. With the support of five Congress MLAs and two each from the IUML and VCK, the government is said to command the support of 118 legislators. The minister expressed concern that the Left parties, with whom the TVK’s relationship has reportedly deteriorated, may not support the government during a floor test.
The alleged strategy is to get 25 TVK MLAs to vote against the government, thereby undermining its majority.
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