Vijay govt wins confidence vote, secures more than halfway mark of 118 in TN Assembly

Crossing the major hurdle facing his government, Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Joseph Vijay on Wednesday won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, securing the support of 144 members, more than the halfway mark of 118.

With the rebel legislators of the AIADMK and the lone AMMK MLA joining hands with the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), CPI, CPI(M), and IUML in extending support to the government, the motion moved by Vijay seeking the confidence of the House was passed by a division of votes.

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Of the 47 AIADMK members, only 22 voted against the motion, while the rest supported it. The division of votes was preceded by a discussion in which Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and others participated.

“We are staging a walkout as the people have lost confidence in the government, which is trying to secure a majority by horse-trading. Despite the walkout, Mr Chief Minister, you will win the trust vote. But we want the government to continue the pro-people welfare measures of the previous DMK government,” Udhayanidhi said before leading his colleagues out. He also pointed out that after lashing out at the AIADMK as a den of corruption during the campaign, the TVK is likely to accommodate a section of the party legislators and elevate some into the cabinet.

Though the AIADMK leadership had not issued a whip, the split in the party was apparent, with the rebels teaming up with the treasury benches even as those aligned with EPS opposed the motion. The rebel camp, led by former ministers CVe Shanmugam and SP Velumani, had made it clear on Tuesday that they would vote in favour of the government.

Interestingly, Kamaraj, the lone legislator of the AMMK, which is part of the NDA, joined the ranks of those supporting the government. The PMK, with its four members, and the lone BJP MLA, Bhojarajan, remained neutral.

For his part, Vijay reached out to the AIADMK rebels and honoured Shanmugam and Velumani, presenting them with shawls and assuring that he would take care of them. “I am there. I will look after you,” he had said at the brief meeting. Earlier, he had called on VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan and IUML chief Prof Khader Mohideen to thank them for their support. This followed his meeting with CPI and CPI(M) leaders, shortly after the parties pledged their support for the TVK government, enabling Vijay to stake his claim before the Governor.

More than Vijay passing the trust vote, the move split the AIADMK, undermining EPS’s leadership and presenting a bleak future for the party.