Chief Minister Vijay on Wednesday won the trust vote in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, comfortably crossing the required majority mark. A total of 144 MLAs voted in favour of the government, well above the halfway figure of 118, ensuring the survival of his administration.
The floor test unfolded against a tense political backdrop, marked by visible divisions within opposition ranks and strategic abstentions.
Opposition walkout adds drama
As per a report by India Today, proceedings in the Assembly witnessed sharp reactions from opposition parties. Legislators from the DMK and DMDK staged a walkout during the trust vote, choosing not to participate in the final count. Their exit added a dramatic layer to the already closely watched session, effectively reducing the number of votes cast on the floor.
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Meanwhile, five members stayed away from voting altogether. This included four MLAs from the PMK and one from the BJP, indicating a cautious or neutral stance at a critical moment.
AIADMK faction tilts the balance
A key factor in Vijay’s comfortable victory appeared to be support from within the divided AIADMK. The faction led by rebel leaders Shanmugam and SP Velumani, which reportedly commands the backing of 30 out of the party’s 47 MLAs, played a significant role in shaping the outcome.
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Based on the voting pattern, at least 24 MLAs from this AIADMK group are believed to have supported the Chief Minister during the trust vote. Their backing proved crucial in pushing the numbers decisively in favour of the government.
With 144 votes in support, Vijay’s government cleared the majority mark with ease despite the absence of several opposition members. The combination of walkouts, abstentions and cross-party backing ultimately worked to the ruling side’s advantage.
