Chennai: The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay passed the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Wednesday, securing a decisive and easy victory that establishes its stability with the support of 144 MLAs in the 234-member house.
The confidence motion moved by CM Vijay passed comfortably, supported by its allies and even got cross-party support that pushed the strength well above the required majority. The main opposition DMK decided to abstain from the trust vote and party leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced in the Assembly that the DMK would not participate and walked out.
In the floor test, TVK’s core strength was 105 seats after CM Vijay gave up one of the two seats from where he won and leaving aside one MLA whose election has been put on hold by the court, and the speaker. The government was supported by Congress’ 5 MLAs, and two MLAs each from CPI(M), CPI, VCK, IUML and one vote from the expelled AMMK MLA S. Kamaraj. The rebel faction of AIADMK led by senior leaders S. P. Velumani and C. V. Shanmugam, with 25 MLAs, also extended support. This took the total supporting strength comfortably past the majority mark in the Assembly.
TVK secured 144 votes in favour in the floor test, while 22 stood against and five maintained neutrality. This was after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its 59 MLAs walked out.
A clear rift surfaced within the AIADMK during the trust vote. AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) asserted that all party MLAs would vote against the motion and called for unity. However, Velumani was allowed to speak by the Speaker, and he stated that they are in support of the TVK, triggering protests from the EPS faction. However, EPS maintained that his party would oppose the trust vote, but a significant number of the rebel bloc aligned with the new government.
The DMK adopted a sharply critical stance before walking out. Udhayanidhi Stalin attacked the TVK government, demanding “real governance, not reel governance”, accusing it of horse-trading, and mocking the political manoeuvres that brought it to power.
“Only a party with the majority mark of 118 can form the government, but only 106 seats were secured by TVK. TVK has secured support from parties aligned with DMK. They have extended outside support to ensure that President’s Rule does not come. TVK leader contested in two constituencies and has now resigned from one seat without even visiting the people to thank them. TVK now has only 106 members, as one MLA has been restrained by court from voting,” Stalin said.
Meanwhile, DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth strongly criticised CM Vijay’s appointment of astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty, questioning the message it sent and urging that such influences be kept away from governance. The Vijay government revoked the appointment later after much criticism.
The trust vote proceeded amid Opposition criticism and visible splits, and the numbers favoured TVK. Allies and supporting groups reaffirmed their commitment to ensure governmental stability.
Responding to Udhayanidhi, Vijay said if some want to call it a minority government, they accept it. “We will protect minority communities and govern for all sections of people. Our government would function on the principles of secularism and social justice,” he said.
In his reply to the debate, CM Vijay assured the House of a secular government focused on welfare, while committing to continue key schemes from the previous administration.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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