Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay delivered another huge political victory, winning the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly with the support of 144 MLAs.
The major floor test, viewed by many as the most difficult test for this new TVK government, ended up being a high-profile show of power for Vijay amid fierce opposition protests and a walkout by DMK lawmakers. It had seemed to be a test of Vijay’s leadership for the first time in years, following his recent shift from Tamil cinema superstar to Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Although the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party had 108 seats in the Assembly, its vote count exceeded that expected, given its support from allies and rebel lawmakers of opposition parties. The government needed support from 118 MLAs to establish a majority at the Assembly level. But Vijay managed to cross the hump from there, thanks not only to support from Congress but also to smaller alliance parties and a big block of MLAs from rebel AIADMK parties.
The biggest shock was the MLAs behind the AIADMK camp. Some 30 rebel MLAs under senior leader S. P. Velumani voted in favour of the Vijay-led government, purportedly contrary to advice from AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Their backing was crucial when it came to bolstering the TVK government’s numbers at the confidence motion.
Finally, Vijay won the support of 144 legislators who gave him both a strong and steady ruling coalition on the Assembly floor. Vijay said the outcome of “victory” for the people of Tamil Nadu, not for his person, was something he felt proud of. To the Assembly, he declared that the people had voted for change and improvement and passed laws supporting governance and stability over political conspiracies.
“This is not just my victory. It stands as the triumph of the Tamil Nadu people who wanted to see change happen, not for me. There were many attempts to disrupt this government, and many moves to undo it; however, the legislators have stood with the development and public welfare,” Vijay said during his speech in the Assembly.
The trust vote was also a setback for the opposition. During the proceedings, DMK leaders (including Udhayanidhi Stalin) staged a walkout in protest against the government. Simultaneously, the rebellion within the AIADMK has introduced new political uncertainty for the party leaders.
The outcome has been widely considered to have brought Vijay into a strong position in Tamil Nadu politics from the polls by political analysts. Backing the government, and 144 MLAs are there, which means the government will be more than likely to gain this power in the future, and it remains far more secure in not facing immediate threats to the government.
Vijay’s victory is seen as a significant accomplishment in history. Now dominant in Tamil cinema for decades as the largest superstar in the state, Vijay has been able to establish himself as a man of real political strength, one who can command legislative support. The successful trust vote will facilitate announcements of some welfare schemes and governance reforms by the chief minister, sources say.
Supporters of TVK raved for miles upon all Tamil Nadu after its results were announced, including party workers urging the start of a “new political era” in the state. Now the dramatic Assembly session has reshaped Tamil Nadu's political structure to new levels, as Vijay emerged stronger than ever after clearing his first major test as Chief Minister.
