Annamalai alleges graft by Tamil Nadu ministers, claims audio proof

We The Leaders founder K. Annamalai on Sunday accused some ministers in the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government of demanding 2% to 4% kickbacks from contractors, claiming to possess audio clips as evidence. Speaking in Chennai, he said Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is against corruption but that some ministers have started seeking cuts, allegedly saying they spent money on elections.

The Hindu reports Annamalai urged Vijay to rein in ministers and officials, and said the government should be given a year to prove itself. Hindustan Times adds that Annamalai called for tighter oversight through regular reviews, warning the administration would drift if unchecked. The allegations follow Vijay’s repeated anti-corruption pledges, including in his Independence Day speech.

Annamalai also proposed allocating Rs 5,000 crore each for waterbody protection, school infrastructure, and rural development from the 2026 budget. He denied being the BJP's B team, saying Amit Shah had asked him to move to Delhi but he chose to stay in Tamil Nadu.