Will Recent Raids Dent DMKs Chances In 2026 Assembly Elections? Know Here

With just a yr to head for the a very powerful 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the DMK govt is going through an escalating political cyclone. The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) widening investigation into the Rs 1,000 crore TASMAC alcohol rip-off is popping out to be a frightening problem for the federal government of Chief Minister MK Stalin.

The probe company remaining week searched the house and workplace of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) Managing Director S. Visakan, IAS, interrogating him for nearly 20 hours. The transfer got here after the Madras High Court rejected a DMK-sponsored petition that had requested to claim earlier ED raids at TASMAC workplaces as “illegal,” leaving the best way open for the company to pursue its investigation underneath the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED has now widened its investigation to hide folks stated to be just about senior DMK functionaries, akin to movie manufacturer Akash Bhaskaran and Ratheesh Velu, and are accused of being conduits within the cash laundering of unaccounted cash traced to TASMAC operations. Ratheesh Velu has reportedly long gone in another country prior to the raids.

Chennai, Tamil Nadu: The Enforcement Directorate carried out raids at 8 places in Chennai, together with the place of dwelling of TASMAC MD Visakan and workplaces related to filmmaker Akash Baskaran, in reference to a ₹1,000 crore liquor rip-off. Officials showed the raids are similar… pic.twitter.com/7os6KTEsbT
— IANS (@ians_india) May 16, 2025

Even although the ED has now not made a proper observation, the opposition AIADMK and BJP intensified assaults, alleging that the DMK is protective shut confidants of Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. AIADMK, underneath the management of Edappadi Ok. Palaniswami (EPS), additionally began a viral social media marketing campaign known as “Yaar Antha Thambi” (Who is that brother?), wondering the ruling birthday celebration.

While many of the FIRs first of all investigated through the ED return to the 2016–2021 AIADMK govt, the opposition is now turning the tables at the DMK and accusing the prevailing govt of continuous — and probably making the most of — the syndicate of bloated bills, unaccounted money, and kickbacks in TASMAC’s acquire procedures.

TASMAC, which is the state’s key income, reported earnings of Rs 48,344 crore within the 2024–2025 monetary yr. It has been criticised for a loss of transparency and monetary mismanagement for years.

The DMK, already going through felony warmth with quite a lot of most sensible leaders and ministers being concerned with disproportionate belongings and tax circumstances, has categorised the raids as “politically motivated.” The ED transfer, alternatively, at a time when the DMK is in its remaining yr in workplace, has put further force at the ruling birthday celebration to be politically at the transfer amid expanding indicators of anti-incumbency.

“This wasn’t completely unexpected. We knew that as the elections neared, agencies like the ED and CBI would become active. Our task is now to counter the narrative being pushed by the opposition for the next one year,” a senior DMK chief instructed Deccan Herald on situation of anonymity.