Letters to The Editor — July 3, 2026 - The HinduPublished - July 03, 2026 12:24 am ISTLetters to The Editor — July 3, 2026letters to the editorHorse-trading allegationsIt has become hard to make sense of what is happening in Tamil Nadu politics. The election result has redrawn the political landscape with parties such as the Congress, the CPI(M), the CPI, the VCK, the IUML and MDMK providing the TVK-led government its crutches, and the AIADMK imploding. The so-called ideological like-mindedness has given way to opportunism. What these parties did was not quite ethical. Saying that it was done to prevent the imposition of President’s rule was a lame excuse to rationalise their politically expedient move. It is most worrying that newly-elected AIADMK MLAs are tendering their resignations as MLAs and joining the TVK. If it is not TVK-style ‘horse trading’, what is it? The defections are no great advertisement to ‘pure politics’ that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay professes to represent and uphold. The only plausible explanation for luring AIADMK MLAs is that the TVK does not want to rely on the support of the allies for long. The TVK’s countercharges that the DMK is indulging in horse trading does not stand the test of contextualisation, given the respective strengths of the parties in the Assembly. The irony is that at the time of voting, electors were not aware of the possibility of their elected representatives resigning so soon after the election, for no good reason.G. David Milton,Maruthancode, Tamil NaduPolitical morality, probity in public life and ethical propriety dictate that the sanctity of democracy needs to be upheld and preserved. Public trust is the core aspect in a democracy. Some fast-emerging events in the State drive one to infer that the very foundation of democracy is under attack.V. Johan Dhanakumar,ChennaiBlending experimentThe government’s latest submission before the Supreme Court of India, stating that ethanol blending remains an ongoing experiment, raises several important questions. If its full impacts are still being studied, why has ethanol-blended fuel become the default option for consumers? And why have concerns about reduced fuel efficiency and potential engine damage been so readily dismissed?Unlike the experience of countries such as Brazil, where the success of ethanol blending was built on a phased and structured transition, India’s biofuel push appears to be moving faster than the infrastructure, consumer awareness, and evidence base required to support it. As a result, consumers are left with little meaningful choice in the matter. Equally concerning is the fact that the promised benefits of ethanol blending have yet to translate into visible savings at the petrol pump. Fuel prices remain high, leaving consumers wondering where the expected gains have gone.Another cause for concern is the lack of clarity regarding accountability. While the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is the nodal agency responsible for ethanol blending, much of the public messaging and advocacy surrounding the transition has come from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, creating confusion about where responsibility ultimately lies.The government must recognise that a transition of this scale should be built on transparency, accountability, and informed consumer choice — not on assumptions of public consent.Himangka Kaushik,New DelhiPublished - July 03, 2026 12:24 am ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }