The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday turned into a crucial political battleground as Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay sought to prove his majority on the floor of the House, with major opposition parties including the Congress, CPI(M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) extending support to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. TVK chief Vijay sailed through the floor test in the Legislative Assembly with 144 votes in favour.
The backing from multiple parties significantly strengthened Vijay’s position during the confidence motion, helping the TVK-led bloc comfortably cross the majority mark in the Assembly amid intense political realignments in the state.
The TVK holds 107 seats in the Assembly, after Vijay resigned from Trichy East and retained Perambur. However, the party had 106 MLAs to vote after the Madras High Court directed TVK leader Srinivasa Sethupathi not to participate in the Assembly confidence vote after the DMK challenged the poll results in Tirupattur in the court. The party gained support from Congress (five seats), along with the CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML, which contribute two seats each. Adding one expelled AMMK MLA, the coalition’s strength currently stands at 120 seats (excluding Srinivasa Sethupathi).
However, 22 MLAs voted against the TVK, and five MLAs abstained. The DMK staged a walkout, reducing 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.
During the debate on the confidence motion, allies of the government reiterated their support while also placing several demands before the ruling party. VCK MLA Vanni Arasu said secular parties had extended unconditional support to prevent attempts to destabilise the elected government through indirect means. He stressed the need to protect state rights and praised Vijay for meeting opposition leaders after assuming office. Arasu also urged the government to strongly raise issues concerning fishermen, constituency delimitation, and Sri Lankan Tamils. He demanded a separate law against honour killings and sought action against fraudulent superstitious practices, black magic, and astrology-based exploitation.
He further appealed for the continuation of welfare schemes such as the breakfast scheme, Tamil Pudhalvan scheme, and free electricity benefits.
Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, VCK MLA Vanni Arasu says, “Secular parties, including VCK, have extended unconditional support to the government and expressed confidence that the government would complete its five-year term successfully. The support was extended to prevent… pic.twitter.com/AojrwEjbHQ
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2026
Meanwhile, political speculation intensified over possible divisions within the AIADMK, with reports of emerging factions backing different leaders inside the party.
Vijay’s recent visit to former minister CV Shanmugam’s office has also fuelled discussions about shifting political equations in Tamil Nadu as the newly formed TVK government attempts to consolidate its position in the Assembly.