New Delhi: The newly formed government led by Vijay and his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam successfully proved its majority in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly after winning the crucial floor test with 144 votes.
The confidence motion saw 22 MLAs voting against the government, while five legislators remained neutral during the proceedings. A major boost for the TVK government came from 26 rebel MLAs of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam who extended support to Vijay during the vote.
The government also received backing from alliance partners including the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League, Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist).
TVK currently holds 107 seats in the Assembly after Vijay vacated the Tiruchirappali East constituency following his appointment as Chief Minister. The support of allied parties strengthened the numbers further ahead of the trust vote.
The floor test, however, unfolded amid political uncertainty after TVK MLA Srinivasa Sethupathi was restrained by the Madras High Court from participating in the voting process. Adding to the developments, AMMK MLA S Kamaraj also extended support to the Vijay government despite previously making allegations against the party.
The biggest political development came from within the AIADMK, where a rebel faction openly backed TVK after accusing party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami of attempting to align with the rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
Meanwhile, the DMK chose to boycott the floor test. Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced that the party would abstain from voting and staged a walkout from the Assembly.
Addressing the House after the victory, Chief Minister Vijay thanked supporting parties and assured that welfare schemes introduced by the previous administration would continue. Responding to criticism from opponents, he remarked that his administration was “not indulging in horse trading, but functioning with the speed of a horse,” drawing loud reactions inside the Assembly.
