The new Tamil Nadu government led by C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday comfortably won the crucial floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, securing the support of 144 members.
While 22 MLAs voted against the motion, five members remained neutral during the confidence vote moved by the Chief Minister Vijay to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
The trust vote exposed a sharp split within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), with 25 rebel MLAs led by S P Velumani and C V Shanmugam backing the TVK and 22 legislators aligned with party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami opposing the resolution. Subsequently, on Wednesday evening, AIADMK’s Palaniswami cracked the whip, and also announced removal of party positions from those supporting Velumani and Shanmugam.
With 108 MLAs — ten short of majority — the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) received support from the Indian National Congress, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League. The lone MLA of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, S Kamaraj, also extended support to the government.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam walked out of the Assembly ahead of the voting. The Pattali Makkal Katchi legislators and the lone BJP MLA abstained.
