Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday proved majority and secured the trust vote with 144 MLAs after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) split on the floor of the Assembly and MK Stalin's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) decided to boycott it. Speaker JCD Prabhakar reported that 22 MLAs opposed the trust vote resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, while 5 others maintained a neutral stance. With its allies, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) held a strength of 120 MLAs with its supporting parties in the House. However, the DMK's walkout reduced the total strength of the House during the voting. The number of MLAs supporting Vijay shows that a block of AIADMK rebels disobeyed the party whip and voted against it.
The TVK won the floor test as Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and VCK MLAs extended support to the party. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which has two MLAs, has also extended support to the TVK government.
AMMK rebel MLA Kamaraj supports TVK in Assembly
Expelled Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK) MLA Kamaraj has also supported TVK in the Assembly. He said, "I supported the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government yesterday, I support it today, and I will continue to support it for the next five years. CM Vijay is protecting the entire state. I believe he will not leave me either. I am sure our Vijay will protect and save me too."
Amid a trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday said a rift has emerged within the AIADMK. "The Chief Minister rushed to meet the rebel MLAs even before they had officially quit the party. This is not a change; it is an exchange. The government lost the public's trust on the very first day. That is precisely why we are staging a boycott; continue implementing the schemes of the DMK government—the people are waiting," he said.
A minor heated exchange was witnessed between the two factions of the AIADMK when senior leader SP Velumani expressed support for the confidence motion.
Palaniswami claims AIADMK MLAs were offered cash to support trust vote
Meanwhile, Edappadi K Palaniswami said the AIADMK will vote against Vijay and claimed its MLAs were being offered cash to support the trust vote. BJP's Bhojrajan expressed regret over the House's attempts to cast baseless aspersions on the BJP and said the BJP's role in this government will remain neutral.
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam's (DMDK) Premalatha Vijayakant said, for the first time, reports of horse-trading have surfaced in Tamil Nadu. If Radhan Pandit Vetrivel is your spiritual guide, appoint him in a private capacity; however, designating him as a political advisor is objectionable.
Congress, CPI(M), CPI, and VCK support TVK in trust vote
Congress, CPI(M), and VCK members extended support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in the Assembly while also putting forward their suggestions and demands during the discussion. The CPI supported the confidence motion, stating, "The BJP wanted to impose President's Rule through the back door; that is why we extended our support."
CLP leader Rajesh Kumar announced that, on behalf of the Congress, he would vote in favor of the vote of confidence. The BJP had hatched a conspiracy to form the government through the back door; that is precisely why the Congress, CPM, CPI, VCK, and IUML extended their support.
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Tamil Nadu trust vote showdown: AIADMK issues whip warning rebels over support to Vijay's TVK
