Chennai: Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government has successfully cleared a crucial trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday, securing a comfortable majority amid a politically charged session marked by opposition walkouts and a split in the AIADMK.
The confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Vijay was passed after division voting in the House, with 144 Members of the Legislative Assembly voting in favour of the government, 22 voting against, and five abstaining. The result confirmed the TVK government’s majority in the 234-member Assembly, where 118 seats are required for a simple majority.
A major development during the vote was the support extended by a rebel faction of the AIADMK, led by senior leaders SP Velumani and C. Ve. Shanmugam. This group broke ranks with the party leadership and voted in favour of the TVK government, significantly strengthening Vijay’s position in the House. The main AIADMK bloc, aligned with Edappadi K. Palaniswami, voted against the motion.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the principal opposition party, staged a walkout before the voting took place, protesting the proceedings. Meanwhile, the BJP’s lone MLA and the PMK’s four legislators chose to abstain from voting.
The ruling coalition also received support from several smaller parties, including the Congress and other allied groups, further boosting the numbers in favour of the government during the floor test.
According to Assembly officials, the voting process was conducted under the supervision of Speaker JCD Prabhakar, who announced the final result after completing the division-wise count.
Political observers say the outcome marks a significant early victory for the TVK government, which has been navigating a fragmented political landscape since its formation. The backing from sections of the opposition, especially the AIADMK rebel camp, is seen as a key factor that helped the government cross the majority mark comfortably.
With the trust vote passed, the TVK government is expected to focus on consolidating its administration and preparing its governance agenda in the coming days.
