TN shocker: Sasikala, Panneerselvam bribed MLAs before trust vote, reveals sting [Video]
- The investigation - carried out by Times Now and Moon TV - has recorded two AIADMK MLAs saying that money had changed hands to fix the trust vote
- Sulur MLA R Kanagaraj, who voted in favour of Palaniswami, and South Madurai MLA SS Saravanan, who switched to the OPS camp, are the two legislators caught on camera
- Though there have been speculations, this is the first time that any of the legislators at the Koovathur resort has admitted that the trust vote was compromised
FollowIn a development that has shocked Tamil Nadu, a sting operation has exposed that AIADMK legislators were paid bribes by party general secretary VK Sasikala, in return for supporting Edappadi K Palaniswami during the trust vote held in the Assembly on February 18.
The investigation - carried out by Times Now and Moon TV - has recorded an AIADMK MLA saying that money had changed hands to fix the trust vote, which Palaniswami won on the back of support offered by 122 AIADMK legislators. The sting operation also puts the spotlight on the O Panneerselvam camp with another MLA revealing that crores were promised by the former Chief Minister's camp in a bid to make MLAs to switch sides.
#WATCH | #MLAsForSale sting tape 1 revealed: SS Saravanan, AIADMK MLA, reveals how Jaya’s legacy was auctioned for crores #MLAsForSale pic.twitter.com/ESbWMC5aev
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 12, 2017
The expose could have major ramifications in the Tamil Nadu government, after two top MLAs of AIADMK factions - led by Panneerselvam and Palaniswami - have revealed that money and gold were promised to sway votes. The money was promised and paid in the Koovathur resort where the MLAs were cooped up by the Sasikala camp ahead of the trust vote.
Sulur MLA R Kanagaraj, who voted in favour of Palaniswami, and South Madurai MLA SS Saravanan, who switched to the OPS camp, are the two legislators caught on camera. It has emerged that the Sasikala camp was willing to pay as much as Rs 6 crore to each MLA in exchange of their vote. Later, they offered to pay the bribe in gold after it became difficult to arrange such large amounts of cash.
#MLAsForSale sting exposes Sasikala camp: Kanakaraj, MLA (EPS camp), says gold & money were promised at the time of trust vote pic.twitter.com/fYMMMSz994
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 12, 2017
Though there have been speculations, this is the first time that any of the legislators at the Koovathur resort has admitted that the trust vote was compromised. If the admissions are true, a case filed citing irregularities by DMK's MK Stalin would get a massive shot in the arm.
