Tamil Nadu CM Vijay wins floor test in Assembly with 144 votes; AIADMK divided

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay comfortably won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) with the support of the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML, as well as that of 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs and the lone AMMK MLA.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Assembly trust vote LIVE- May 13, 2026

The confidence motion moved by Mr. Vijay was put to vote by Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) legislators and the lone Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK) MLA, Premallatha Vijayakant, walked out.

The vote came despite AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s opposition to allowing S.P. Velumani, rebel AIADMK leader and his confidant until a few days ago, from speaking on the party’s behalf.

The rift in the AIADMK widened on Wednesday night with Mr. Palaniswami removing 26 rebel district secretaries, including 12 legislators, from their positions.

Among those who were sacked from their posts were Mr. Velumani and C.Ve. Shanmugam, both former Ministers.

Deepening fault lines

Earlier in the day, Mr. Velumani’s camp pledged support to Mr. Vijay as the government secured 144 votes in the floor test.

While 22 MLAs from Mr. Palaniswami’s camp opposed it, four Pattali Makkal Katchi MLAs and the lone Bharatiya Janata Party MLA ‘abstained’ from voting.

Reiterating that this was “the common people’s rule,” Mr. Vijay said the government was for the good of everyone and the public would realise this as time goes by.

“This is not a government to show power or authority, or hatred. People and public welfare are important. It is the sole objective of this government,” he said.

‘People’s faith’

Thanking everyone in the Assembly, Mr. Vijay said the people had reposed faith in the TVK-led government, just as they did in 1967 and 1977 to usher in “governments of the common people.”

The “whistle revolution” had secured over 34.92% of votes to elect the TVK as the single-largest party in less than three years of its formation.

“The majority was missed by a thin margin. If anyone thinks that this is a minority government, we are happy. This is a minority government, which will truly safeguard the rights of the minorities,” he said, adding that his government was for everyone which has been reflected in the confidence motion. The Chief Minister further promised a democratic, secular regime rooted in social justice.