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TVK alleges Rs 35 crore MLA bribery bid as Tamil Nadu political row escalates

Allegations of a Rs 35 crore bribery offer to a TVK MLA and an FIR against Senthil Balaji’s brother have intensified political tensions in Tamil Nadu, with the TVK, DMK and AIADMK trading accusations.

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Actor vijay

The alleged attempt to destabilise the Vijay-led TVK government has triggered a major political confrontation in Tamil Nadu, with the ruling alliance and the opposition accusing each other of engaging in horse-trading and attempts to influence legislators.

The controversy intensified after Chennai Police arrested three people on Wednesday following a complaint by a TVK MLA, who alleged that he was offered ₹35 crore by representatives of a consultancy firm in exchange for supporting a move against the Assembly Speaker. According to the allegations, one of those arrested is reportedly associated with DMK MLA Senthil Balaji and his brother, Ashok.

An FIR has also been registered against Ashok, the brother of Senthil Balaji, over allegations that he attempted to bribe TVK MLA N. Elaiyaraja.

TVK accuses DMK of targeting its MLAs

TVK alleged that the DMK has been attempting to lure its legislators for several weeks in an effort to destabilise the government.

Tamil Nadu minister and senior TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar claimed that several TVK MLAs, along with legislators from alliance partners, had been approached over the past 40 days. He alleged that the party had now been “caught red-handed” after the police action and accused the DMK of trying to purchase the support of a TVK MLA for ₹35 crore.

Nirmal Kumar also alleged that a close associate of Senthil Balaji had threatened a TVK legislator and further claimed that former chief minister MK Stalin and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi were attempting to create a political crisis. He rejected allegations that the TVK itself was involved in horse-trading, asserting that the ruling alliance remained secure with the support of its partners.

According to the allegations cited by agencies, the purported plan involved securing the simultaneous resignation of 15 TVK MLAs to bring down the Vijay-led government.

Opposition rejects allegations

The DMK dismissed the accusations, alleging that the Vijay-led government was trying to divert attention from its own shortcomings.

DMK leader TKS Elangovan said the government had failed to fulfil its promises and claimed that the TVK alliance itself was engaged in horse-trading. He questioned the allegation that the DMK would seek to engineer political instability under the present circumstances.

The AIADMK also criticised the ruling party, accusing it of attracting legislators from rival parties while questioning its commitment to public welfare. AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami said that political manoeuvring and shifting alliances had overshadowed governance.

Alliance partners support TVK government

The TVK’s alliance partners backed the government during the controversy.

Congress MP Praveen Chakravarty questioned why the DMK was allegedly seeking to bring down the government instead of remaining in the opposition, asking why it was in such a hurry to return to power.

VCK leader SS Balaji also reiterated his party’s support for the TVK government for its full five-year term. While stating that he was not aware of the specific allegations regarding attempts to poach legislators, he said that encouraging MLAs to resign was not a healthy democratic practice and reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to the government.

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Protesters pour in to Jantar Mantar, Centre readies for discussion in Parliament

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The agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination continued on Wednesday, with more people making a queue to join the demonstration at Jantar Mantar despite Delhi Metro shutting station gates, police action, ongoing negotiations with the Centre and heightened security across the capital.

Protesters regrouped at Jantar Mantar from late at night on Tuesday with CJP leaders warning that the Parliament march was “just a trailer” and that larger demonstrations would follow if the government failed to respond. The protest’s impact was also felt in Parliament, where repeated Opposition protests over the police action led to disruptions and adjournments in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Last evening, Congress leaders led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav had staged a demonstration outside PM Narendra Modi’s residence. While Rahul’s protest drew kudos all around, AAP leaders mocked him for trying to hijack the movement that had been led by the CJP.  

In a related development, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a plea seeking intervention over the alleged police action against CJP protesters, directing the petitioner to follow the regular listing procedure.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police registered multiple FIRs in connection with Monday’s violence and maintained heavy deployment around Parliament House and Jantar Mantar. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closed 16 Metro stations across central Delhi, with trains passing through without halting. Interchange facilities were available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat, while commuters were advised to check official service updates. Traffic diversions and station closures disrupted travel across the city.

With protesters refusing to withdraw and the Centre signalling that dialogue will continue, the agitation remains one of the biggest political challenges confronting the government during the Monsoon Session.

The CJP agitation took on a new lease of life and urgency on Monday when thousands of CJP supporters marched to Parliament under the banner of Chalo Sansad on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. Protesters demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a parliamentary debate on the alleged examination irregularities and reforms in the examination system. Delhi Police stopped the procession near Parliament, citing security concerns and the absence of permission. They then used tear gas and lathicharged the march saying some protesters attempted to cross barricades. Several demonstrators, including CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, were briefly detained. Over 100 students were treated for injuries including fractures and pellet wounds, a similar number of police personnel were also injured thought not as severely, reports said.

The stalemate in the government position to engage with the protesters broke on Monday. Health Minister JP Nadda met a CJP delegation, which submitted a memorandum outlining its demands. Government sources said the minister urged protesters to end the agitation and assured them that their concerns would be examined. However, CJP leaders said the meeting produced no concrete outcome and vowed to continue the protest.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was forcibly moved to hospital by police after his health deteriorated on his indefinite fast, remains under medical supervision with the court’s clearing his request to be moved from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta hospital.

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Vijay’s TVK demands scrapping NEET, seeks state control of medical education

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Tamil Nadu CM Vijay speaking on stage

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, has on Wednesday again demanded the complete abolition of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

The party described its position as an “uncompromising and firm stand”, stating that it is not merely seeking reforms in the examination system but wants NEET scrapped entirely. The statement comes amid nationwide protests and growing concerns over alleged irregularities in the medical entrance examination.

A TVK statement said medical education should come under the full control of state governments rather than the Centre. The party demanded that education be shifted from the Concurrent List to the State List of the Constitution, allowing states to decide their own admission policies for medical colleges. As an interim measure, TVK proposed creating a Special Concurrent List that would grant states greater authority over education until constitutional changes are made.

The party criticized what it called the “One Nation, One Education” approach, arguing that a single national entrance test places students from rural areas, government schools, Tamil-medium institutions, and economically weaker sections at a disadvantage. TVK reiterated its demand that admissions to MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses under the state quota should be based on Class 12 examination marks instead of NEET.

TVK’s latest statement comes as students and activists across the country continue to protest over examination irregularities. The party clarified that its opposition to NEET is not limited to recent controversies but is based on its long-standing belief that states should have complete authority over medical education and admissions. It criticized political parties that promised to abolish NEET without delivering on those commitments, without naming the rival DMK.

The demand has reignited the debate over the future of NEET and the balance of power between the Centre and the states. Supporters believe scrapping the examination would provide a fair opportunity for students from different backgrounds, while opponents argue that NEET ensures a uniform standard for medical admissions across India.

At present, NEET remains a national-level entrance examination, and the Union Government has not announced any decision to abolish it. However, TVK has said it will continue to press for constitutional changes and greater state autonomy in medical education.

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For second time, US strikes ship with Indian crew near Strait of Hormuz

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Strait of Hormuz

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has said that an oil tanker carrying Indian crew was drifting with its engine switched off near the Strait of Hormuz before it was struck by US forces.

A CENTCOM spokesperson said the vessel had stopped due to engine failure and was drifting after its crew repeatedly sought additional time to carry out repairs. US officials said the tanker was struck only after it failed to comply with directives issued by US forces enforcing a blockade on vessels allegedly transporting Iranian oil. The military said the strike was aimed at disabling the ship by targeting its engine room rather than sinking it.

The incident involved a tanker carrying Indian seafarers near the Gulf of Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. The strike triggered a fire onboard, prompting rescue efforts by Omani authorities and maritime agencies. Indian authorities closely monitored the situation and coordinated with local officials regarding the welfare of the crew members.

The incident has drawn concern in India, with the government emphasising the safety of Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in the conflict-hit region. The Ministry of External Affairs has remained in touch with the authorities concerned as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to pose risks to international shipping.

In June, three Indian sailors were killed in a US strike on another oil tanker. The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant share of the word’s oil trade, and the latest incident has renewed concerns over the security of merchant vessels operating in the region. Maritime experts have warned that escalating hostilities could further disrupt commercial shipping and endanger civilian crews navigating one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.

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