Tamil Nadu’s high-stakes election contest has taken a legal turn days before polling, after a right-wing think tank filed a complaint with the Income Tax Department alleging financial and political collusion between church bodies and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), escalating an already polarised campaign. The complaint was lodged after an RSS mouthpiece claimed collusion between the Church and the DMK against the BJP, intensifying the political confrontation between the DMK-led alliance and the BJP-led camp.
The Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) has approached the Income Tax Department, seeking a probe into “suspicious transactions” worth hundreds of crores allegedly routed from the DMK to the Tamil Nadu Catholic Bishops’ Conference to secure public support for Chief Minister MK Stalin in the ongoing election battle.
Lodged complaint at @IncomeTaxIndia seeking investigation of suspicious transaction of 100s of Cr Rs from @arivalayam to TN Catholic Bishop Conf to extract open support for @mkstalin in TN elections! Bishops must contest polls rather than indulging in f***h trade @zeneraalstuff pic.twitter.com/JSUFQlkwlN
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) April 20, 2026
Notably, Christians and Muslims together make up nearly 15% of Tamil Nadu’s electorate.
Amid the controversy, a delegation of Christian bishops met CM MK Stalin on April 19 and expressed support for the DMK-led alliance. The meeting was seen by opposition voices as a sign of organised backing from sections of the Church, while DMK leaders have maintained that outreach to communities is part of normal democratic engagement.
On the same day, reports emerged of pamphlets critical of the BJP being distributed during Sunday prayers at churches across parts of Tamil Nadu. The pamphlets were said to have been jointly issued by multiple Christian organisations, including the Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Conference and other community groups, further fuelling allegations of coordinated political messaging.
Minority groups reiterate support for DMK
Earlier, on April 10, representatives from Christian minority groups had publicly declared support for the DMK and its alliance. At a gathering in Chennai, CSI Zion Church Chairman Raja Freeman said the Christian and minority communities stood firmly behind the ruling party and expected its return to power.
Chairman, CSI Zion Church, Raja Freeman says, “Today we are gathered here to show our support to the DMK party… We are expecting the DMK government to re-establish our Chief Minister again to get his seat again for the seventh time… The Christian community and minority community will support the work of the DMK party.”
#WATCH | Chennai: Christian minority representatives extend their support to the DMK and its alliance ahead of Tamil Nadu elections.
Chairman, CSI Zion Church, Raja Freeman says, “Today we are gathered here to show our support to the DMK party… We are expecting the DMK… pic.twitter.com/fjVgg7lt6w
— ANI (@ANI) April 10, 2026
Assembly elections on April 23
Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23, with results scheduled for May 4. The main contest is between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes the Congress and other regional parties, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led in the state by the AIADMK in alliance with the BJP and PMK.
The latest complaint adds a legal dimension to an already intense campaign, where issues of governance, alliances, and community support have taken centre stage. Whether the allegations translate into electoral impact remains to be seen, but the developments have sharpened the battle lines in one of the country’s most closely watched state elections.