Vijay wins trust vote comfortably as AIADMK rift deepens in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay comfortably cleared his first major political hurdle on Wednesday after the Assembly backed his government with 144 votes during the confidence motion.

The floor test in the 234-member House quickly turned into a dramatic display of shifting alliances, opposition fractures and open rebellion inside the AIADMK. While Vijay celebrated a strong mandate on the Assembly floor, the opposition benches looked unusually empty after the DMK and DMDK staged a walkout before voting began.

Outside Fort St George in Chennai, TVK supporters burst crackers, waved party flags and raised slogans as news of the victory spread. Several young supporters described the moment as a political turning point for the actor-turned-politician, who entered electoral politics only recently and now leads the state government.

Inside the Assembly, Vijay’s coalition crossed the majority mark of 118 with ease. His Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam already held support from Congress, Left parties, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League.

However, the biggest surprise emerged from the opposition camp.

A large section of AIADMK legislators reportedly backed Vijay despite clear instructions from party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami to oppose the confidence motion. Rebel leaders CV Shanmugam and SP Velumani appeared to lead the breakaway group.

Political observers estimate that at least 25 AIADMK MLAs voted in favour of the government. Their support significantly boosted Vijay’s final tally and exposed serious cracks inside the opposition party.

Meanwhile, only 22 MLAs from the AIADMK camp eventually voted against the motion after the DMK walkout reduced the number of legislators present in the House.

The rebellion now threatens to reshape Tamil Nadu’s opposition politics.

The rebel AIADMK faction openly challenged the authority of EPS and signalled growing comfort with Vijay’s leadership. Still, the group lacks enough numbers to formally split or merge under anti-defection rules. The camp would require support from at least two-thirds of the AIADMK legislature party to avoid disqualification.

Tension also surfaced during the debate over allegations of political horse-trading.

Opposition leaders accused the ruling side of influencing legislators ahead of the vote. Vijay responded sharply during his speech in the Assembly. He said his government would move with “horse speed” but would never engage in horse-trading.

The chief minister also attempted to reassure alliance partners and minority groups during his address. He promised that his administration would remain secular and continue welfare schemes launched under previous governments.

His remarks appeared aimed at strengthening confidence among coalition partners who backed the new administration despite ideological differences.

The trust vote also unfolded against a legal backdrop. Earlier, the Madras High Court barred one TVK MLA from participating because of an election dispute linked to the Tiruppattur constituency. Even after that setback, Vijay retained enough support to comfortably survive the test.

Across Chennai, political discussions shifted quickly from the floor test result to the future of the AIADMK. Tea stalls, party offices and television studios all focused on the same question — whether the opposition party can stay united after such a visible internal split.

Vijay leaves the Assembly stronger than before. The trust vote not only secured his government but also positioned him as the central figure in Tamil Nadu’s rapidly changing political landscape.