Bribes taken like loan EMIs: Vijay's big charge against DMK in assembly

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Monday launched a blistering attack on the DMK in the Assembly, alleging that contractors were forced to pay bribes to the party in the guise of party funds, with payments collected in instalments like EMIs on a loan.Citing an Enforcement Directorate (ED) document, Vijay alleged that contractors were made to pay between 7.5 per cent and 10 per cent of contract values as "party funds" during the previous DMK government.In a fiery response to repeated demands from the Opposition for evidence to support his corruption allegations, Vijay said the ED document itself contained the evidence being sought."The ED document says that 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent was collected as party funds. That is, they demanded and collected this percentage as part of the contract rates. It also says that the amount was collected as a bribe in the name of party funds," Vijay said. He alleged that the money was collected from contractors executing works under the Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MAWS) Department."The bribes were collected from contractors of the MAWS Department for government works in the form of party funds," Vijay said, reading from the ED document. He further quoted the document as saying, "The bribes in the form of party funds are collected for the benefit of the party in power and which is running the Tamil Nadu government.""Which party was ruling the government back then? DMK," Vijay said.‘BRIBE TAKEN IN INSTALMENTS LIKE EMI’Vijay also referred to a person named Purushotham, whom he said was quoted in the ED report as stating that Rs 29 lakh had been collected as a bribe."It is not just this Rs 29 lakh. They have taken it in instalments, like paying an EMI on a loan," Vijay said.He then read out what he described as the "climax" of the ED document, claiming that it identified Chief Minister MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin, then Deputy Chief Minister, among the alleged direct beneficiaries."The direct beneficiary of the party fund is MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and his son Udhayanidhi, Deputy Chief Minister, Ravi Prasad and many other unknown persons," Vijay said.He stressed, "Government officers collect bribes in the form of party funds"."They want evidence about party funds, right? This is what I am saying, this is what Vijay is saying and the Enforcement Directorate itself has said it," the Chief Minister added.Vijay pointed out that the allegations were not his own but those contained in the ED report."These are not allegations made by us. These are allegations in that report, allegations made by the Enforcement Directorate," he said.VIJAY INVOKES SARKARIA COMMISSION REPORTThe Chief Minister also invoked the Sarkaria Commission report while attacking the DMK over allegations of corruption during its earlier tenure in power.Referring to the commission's findings on the Veeranam water supply scheme, Vijay said the report contained allegations relating to the collection of "party funds"."One chapter says that 2.5 per cent was demanded as party fund by (Dayanidhi) Maran. The tender was for Rs 16 crore," Vijay said.Vijay said the issue was raised again in 2001 by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and former minister C Ponnaiyan."When we dug a bit, a lot came out," he said, seeking to portray the allegations as evidence of a longstanding history of corruption within the DMK.The allegations led to a major showdown and the main opposition strongly opposed the chief minister's statement and a ruckus ensued. DMK MLAs surrounded Speaker JCD Prabhakar's podium, raised slogans and rushed to the well.- EndsPublished On: Sep 7, 2026 11:59 IST