Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday warned the opposition DMK that his government would reveal files related to alleged irregularities in the previous DMK regime at an “appropriate time”, as a heated exchange between ruling and opposition legislators disrupted proceedings in the Assembly.
The confrontation took place during a debate on demands for grants for several departments, including Water Resources, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Tourism, and Art and Culture. DMK members questioned the government over allegations of corruption and demanded documentary evidence to support charges levelled against the previous administration.
Responding to the opposition's demand, Vijay said files concerning alleged irregularities in three departments had already been examined and were currently on his table. He indicated that the government had evidence to support the allegations but would not release the documents hastily.
“I will reveal the corruption files from the previous DMK regime at an appropriate time,” Vijay said during the exchange, according to reports. He also indicated that the documents would be made public along with supporting evidence when the government considered the timing appropriate.
The Chief Minister said the government understood when and how information should be placed before the people. He stressed that he would respond to the opposition rather than remain silent when repeated demands were made for proof of the allegations.
The remarks triggered reactions from both sides of the House, adding to the political tension between Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and the DMK.
The latest clash follows a separate controversy over an alleged irregularity in a Rs 5.54-crore tender connected to the proposed relocation of the Chief Minister's Office. DMK MLA E V Velu had questioned the tender process and raised concerns over whether the tender had been properly published online. Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna rejected the allegations, saying they were based on inaccurate reports and sought to create doubts about the government.
Vijay's latest warning also fits into his administration's broader anti-corruption messaging. In his Independence Day address on August 15, the Chief Minister had pledged to make Tamil Nadu corruption-free and said his government was working in “mission mode” to tackle corruption and bribery.
The exchange in the Assembly signals that allegations of corruption are likely to remain a major political battleground between the TVK government and the DMK. With Vijay now indicating that documents are ready and awaiting disclosure, attention is expected to focus on what the files contain and when the government chooses to make them public.
For now, the Chief Minister has made it clear that the documents will not be released under pressure from the opposition, but at a time and in a manner decided by his government.
