AIADMK Stages Tiruchy Protest, EPS Accuses TVK Government of "Horse-Trading," Law and Order Failures

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami led a party protest in Tiruchy on July 18 against Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's TVK government, days after first announcing the demonstration.

Palaniswami alleged that law and order in the state had deteriorated under the TVK government, that crimes against women had risen, and that the administration had failed to curb drug trafficking.

He also accused the ruling party of "horse-trading," alleging that AIADMK legislators were being pressured and induced to resign their seats and join the TVK. Six MLAs elected on AIADMK tickets have so far resigned and joined the ruling party.

The protest is the latest in a series of AIADMK actions targeting the TVK government, coming days after Palaniswami separately rejected talk of a DMK tie-up and after an AIADMK MP wrote to the state DGP seeking a police probe into the alleged horse-trading.