SC PIL Seeks CBI Probe Into Tamil Nadu Trust Vote, Demands President’s Rule Over Alleged Horse-Trading

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the trust vote conducted in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on May 13, in which the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay secured a majority.

The petition was filed by Advocate Narender Kumar Verma on behalf of Madurai resident KK Ramesh. It alleges large-scale irregularities, horse-trading and corruption during the confidence motion proceedings. The plea also seeks the imposition of President’s Rule under Article 356 of the Constitution in Tamil Nadu until completion of the proposed investigation. The Union of India, the State of Tamil Nadu and the CBI have been arrayed as respondents.

According to the petition, the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly required the support of at least 118 MLAs to establish a majority. While TVK emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections, the plea claimed that the party initially had only 108 legislators and later secured support from other political parties and factions to win the floor test with the backing of 144 MLAs.

The petition referred to support allegedly extended by MLAs belonging to the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, IUML, a faction of rebel AIADMK legislators and the lone AMMK MLA. It alleged that certain legislators violated party whip directions after being induced through monetary benefits and other considerations.

The plea contended that the trust vote proceedings were vitiated by illegal inducements and political compromises, thereby undermining constitutional morality and democratic principles governing floor tests and confidence motions. On this basis, the petitioner has sought dissolution of the Assembly and an independent CBI investigation into the alleged acts of corruption and horse-trading.

The PIL also highlighted the split within the AIADMK during the confidence motion. According to the petition, 25 AIADMK MLAs led by C Ve Shanmugam and SP Velumani voted in favour of the TVK government, while 22 MLAs aligned with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami voted against the motion.

The petition stated that rival AIADMK factions have approached the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker seeking disqualification of each other’s MLAs under the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law. It further argued that, following the 91st Constitutional Amendment, protection on the ground of a split within a political party is unavailable unless the statutory requirement of a valid merger supported by at least two-thirds of legislators is satisfied.

The petitioner has additionally contended that the alleged irregularities in the trust vote process violated the constitutional rights of voters and residents of Tamil Nadu by compromising democratic governance and legislative integrity.