Chennai [Tamil Nadu]: Newly elected Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday won the floor test in the state Legislative Assembly with 144 votes in favour.
A total of 22 MLAs voted against the motion, while five members abstained. The strength of the House reduced during voting after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) staged a walkout from the Assembly.
The TVK, along with its allies, held a combined strength of 120 MLAs in the House. However, the final tally of 144 votes in support of the government indicated that a section of AIADMK rebels voted in favour of the trust motion, despite the party whip directing members to oppose the government.
The TVK government received support from Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Expelled Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK) MLA Kamaraj also backed the government during the confidence vote.
Speaking after the vote, Kamaraj said he would continue supporting the TVK government for the next five years and expressed confidence in Chief Minister Vijay’s leadership.
Earlier, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had stated that all 47 party MLAs would vote against the confidence motion. However, the Assembly proceedings witnessed differences within the AIADMK camp, with former minister and party MLA SP Velumani speaking during the debate despite objections from supporters of Palaniswami.
Palaniswami also alleged attempts to lure MLAs with offers of ministerial posts and board chairman positions in exchange for supporting the government. He said the AIADMK intended to function as a “responsible Opposition.”
The TVK currently holds 107 Assembly seats after Vijay resigned from the Trichy East constituency and retained Perambur. However, only 106 TVK MLAs were eligible to vote after the Madras High Court directed party leader Srinivasa Sethupathi not to participate in the confidence motion following a legal challenge to his election from Tirupattur.
The ruling coalition’s strength included Congress with five MLAs, along with CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML, which have two MLAs each, besides support from an expelled AMMK legislator.
Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced the DMK walkout during the proceedings and took a swipe at the TVK over the support extended by former allies of the DMK, including Congress.
“We are walking out of the Assembly. Once we walk out, you will get the majority. Govern well with it,” he said, while urging the government not to politicise welfare schemes introduced by the previous dispensation.
The TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, marking a shift from the state’s long-standing DMK-AIADMK political dominance.
(DD News)