Coimbatore, Sept 25:
Health Minister and TVK leader K.G. Arunraj on Thursday rejected allegations that TVK candidate Sathyabama had left the AIADMK after receiving Rs 50 crore, describing the claim as politically motivated.
Speaking to reporters in Tiruppur, Arunraj said the AIADMK leadership was attempting to portray Sathyabama negatively and alleged that the claim was being circulated because of concerns over the by-election.
He also accused the DMK and AIADMK of working together against the ruling TVK. Arunraj alleged that the AIADMK had attempted to lure TVK legislators and claimed that several crores had been kept ready for such efforts.
He further alleged that the TVK candidate in Edappadi had been offered Rs 25 crore and linked the claim to what he described as a pattern of political defections. These allegations were made by Arunraj and have not been independently established.
The minister also criticised AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and claimed that the opposition parties were attempting to weaken the TVK government through political manoeuvring.
The remarks come amid an increasingly heated political contest ahead of the October 6 by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram.