Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan questioned the horse-trading charge on Saturday, October 17, 2026. He asked if the recent entry of two MDMK MLAs into the DMK counts as horse-trading. He said people often joined parties during past tenures. Meanwhile, he added that the government started steps to lower rising rice prices.
Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management K.A. Sengottaiyan on Saturday (October 17, 2026) questioned the allegation of horse-trading in connection with the movement of legislators between political parties, asking whether the recent entry of two MDMK MLAs into the DMK could also be termed horse-trading.
Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a new building of a Primary Agricultural Cooperative Society at Getticheviyur near Gobichettipalayam, he was asked about a representation submitted to the Governor by AIADMK whip Agri S. Krishnamurthy alleging horse-trading.
Mr. Sengottaiyan said no one had specifically stated that 15 AIADMK MLAs would join other parties and stressed the need for clarity when making such claims. "If it is called horse-trading, what would you call the recent entry of two MLAs (T.M. Rajendran and R. Senthil Selvan), into the DMK?" he asked.
He said several people had joined political parties during the tenures of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and subsequently contested elections. Such developments could not automatically be termed horse-trading, he said.
On the rise in prices, Mr. Sengottaiyan said prices could increase when production was low. Steps were being taken to open retail outlets at more than 2,000 locations to supply rice to the public at lower prices. Arrangements were also being made to procure rice from neighbouring States to help bring down prices, he said.