Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Wednesday cleared his biggest political test yet, winning the trust vote in the State Assembly and firmly establishing the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in power.
The confidence motion moved by the Vijay-led government received the support of 144 MLAs, while 22 members voted against it. The voting took place amid high political drama, sharp exchanges in the Assembly and visible cracks within the opposition AIADMK.
The floor test became necessary after Vijay, who entered politics after a successful film career, formed the government through post-election alliances. The vote was closely watched across the State as it marked the first major challenge for the newly formed administration.
The TVK government received backing from Congress, Left parties, VCK, IUML and a group of rebel AIADMK legislators. The support from AIADMK rebels turned out to be crucial despite party leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami asking all party MLAs to vote against the government.
The trust vote also highlighted the growing internal divide within the AIADMK. Several senior leaders openly defied the party leadership and supported Vijay, raising questions about the future unity of the opposition party.
Meanwhile, the DMK chose to walk out of the Assembly before the voting process began. The party accused the ruling alliance of engineering defections and criticised the post-poll political arrangements. The walkout reduced the effective strength of the House and made the government’s path to victory smoother.
Speaking after the result, Vijay thanked alliance partners and supporting legislators for standing by his government. He said the mandate was not just a political victory but a sign of people’s faith in a new style of governance. He also promised that his administration would focus on welfare, development and inclusive politics.
