TVK Govt Wins Trust Vote 144–22; DMK Walks Out, AIADMK Split

CHENNAI, May 13: The four-day-old Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by C Joseph Vijay won a trust vote in the Assembly on Wednesday with a 144:22 margin, overcoming questions over its majority.

The victory came amid a walkout by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and a split in the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, with one faction backing the government and another opposing it. In the 234-member House, the simple majority mark is 118.

While AIADMK legislators loyal to Edappadi K Palaniswami voted against the government, a rebel faction supported it. The Bharatiya Janata Party remained neutral with its lone MLA, and the PMK abstained.

The trust vote was carried with support from the Indian National Congress, Left parties, VCK, AMMK and the AIADMK rebel faction led by SP Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam.

Soon after the House convened, Chief Minister Vijay moved the confidence motion. Speaker JCD Prabhakar announced that 144 MLAs voted in favour, 22 opposed and five remained neutral.

The DMK, with 59 MLAs, staged a walkout before the voting. Expelled AMMK MLA S Kamaraj was among those who supported the government.

Replying to the debate, Vijay said his government would remain secular and continue welfare schemes of previous regimes, asserting it would function with speed but without “horse-trading.”

The floor test was held as per directions of Governor R V Arlekar, who had asked the government to prove its majority by May 13.

The ruling TVK, with 107 MLAs including the Speaker, had secured outside support from Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML, along with backing from a section of AIADMK legislators. The win gives the fledgling government stability, though portfolios for ministers are yet to be allocated. (Agencies)