CM Vijay’s TVK wins floor test with 144 votes
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government comfortably won the floor test crossing the majority mark during the Vote of Confidence in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday, with 144 MLAs voting for Vijay.
Congress, CPI(M), VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) backed the Vijay-led dispensation during the floor test proceedings.
While Congress supported the government with its five MLAs, CPI(M), VCK and IUML contributed two MLAs each.
Expelled Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK) MLA S Kamaraj also voted in favour of the government, taking the coalition’s strength to 121 seats — well above the majority mark in the Assembly.
Meanwhile, AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) urged party MLAs not to support the Vijay government, reminding them that they were bound by the party whip.
Speaking during the debate, EPS said the AIADMK had “fought together” in the elections and secured 47 seats, adding that the party remained committed to restoring the “MGR and Amma-style rule” in Tamil Nadu. On the other hand, DMK abstained from voting and staged a walkout.
DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said that the party would abstain from voting during the Tamil Nadu Assembly trust vote, while launching a sharp attack on the Vijay-led TVK government. Speaking during the floor test debate, Udhayanidhi claimed the TVK had failed to secure a clear public mandate in the elections and was depending on post-poll alliances to remain in power.
He alleged that nearly 65 per cent of voters had rejected Vijay as Chief Minister and accused the TVK chief of “losing faith in the people.”
The DMK leader also questioned Vijay’s credibility, saying the Chief Minister “has no basic honesty in what he has said,” and raised allegations of horse-trading during the confidence vote proceedings.
Taking a swipe at the NDA camp, Udhayanidhi pointed out that BJP ally Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) was now backing the TVK government. He further claimed that many people were already regretting voting for Vijay in the Assembly elections.