Daijiworld Media Network – Chennai
Chennai, May 13: The newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday proved its majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, securing 144 votes in the crucial floor test.
While 22 MLAs voted against the confidence motion, five members remained neutral during the proceedings.
The Vijay-led government received support from alliance partners including the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), CPI, and CPM.
TVK currently holds 107 seats in the Assembly following Vijay’s resignation from the Tiruchirappalli East constituency. The party’s tally was strengthened by support from allied parties and independent legislators.
In a major political development, 25 rebel MLAs from the AIADMK also voted in favour of the TVK government, dealing a blow to AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.
The rebel faction had earlier accused the AIADMK leadership of attempting to align with its long-time rival DMK and subsequently extended support to Vijay’s government.
TVK’s numbers were briefly affected after the Madras High Court restrained party MLA Srinivasa Sethupathi from participating in the floor test. However, AMMK MLA S Kamaraj also backed the government despite previously making allegations against the party.
The DMK, led by Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, boycotted the voting process and staged a walkout before the confidence motion.
Addressing the Assembly, Stalin criticised the government and claimed a majority of the people had not voted for Vijay in the elections.
“There should be a secular government. Nearly 65 per cent of the people rejected Vijay as Chief Minister,” Stalin said while announcing the DMK’s decision to abstain from voting.
After winning the trust vote, Chief Minister Vijay thanked alliance partners and supporting MLAs for backing his government.
He assured the Assembly that welfare schemes introduced by the previous government would continue under the TVK administration.
“This is not a horse-trading government. This is a government moving ahead with the speed of a horse,” Vijay said during his address in the Assembly.