R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, MAY 13
In a dramatic political showdown that could permanently redraw Tamil Nadu’s power structure, C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday stormed through the crucial Assembly floor test with the backing of 144 legislators, while a stunning rebellion within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) pushed the party into its deepest internal crisis in years.
The electrifying trust vote not only secured Vijay’s fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government but also exposed widening cracks inside the AIADMK, with 24 MLAs openly defying party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami and voting in favour of the new Chief Minister.
- Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay wins high-voltage floor test with massive support of 144 MLAs in Tamil Nadu Assembly
- 24 AIADMK legislators cross-vote for Vijay, exposing major rebellion within Edappadi K Palaniswami camp
- TVK-led regime survives trust vote despite wafer-thin numbers after elections
- DMK stages walkout while Congress, Left parties, VCK, IUML and AMMK rally behind Vijay
- Political observers say vote may trigger biggest internal crisis in AIADMK since Jayalalithaa era
The result marked a historic moment in Tamil Nadu politics, coming days after Vijay shattered the decades-long dominance of the DMK-AIADMK binary by leading TVK to a stunning electoral breakthrough.
Vijay Declares Political Victory
Moments after the result was announced, a visibly emotional Vijay hailed the victory as a mandate for change.
“The whistle has changed history,” he declared, referring to TVK’s election symbol.
“We will call ourselves a minority government… a government that will protect the rights of minorities,” he added amid loud cheers from ruling benches.
The trust motion saw:
- 144 votes in favour
- 22 votes against
- Five abstentions/neutral positions
The voting took place amid high political drama inside the newly constituted Tamil Nadu Assembly.
How Vijay Crossed the Majority Mark
TVK had initially emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly but remained short of the majority mark.
However, the party stitched together outside support from:
- Congress
- CPI
- CPI(M)
- VCK
- IUML
- AMMK
The alliance partners together contributed 14 votes, taking the ruling combine to a slender majority even before the AIADMK rebellion dramatically altered the arithmetic.
All 105 eligible TVK MLAs voted in favour of Vijay despite complications arising from:
- The Speaker’s position
- Vijay vacating one of his two seats
- A legal challenge involving Tiruppattur constituency
AIADMK Split Explodes Into Open Rebellion
The biggest political shock of the day came from the AIADMK camp.
Despite clear instructions from EPS to oppose the trust motion, 24 AIADMK MLAs crossed the floor and backed Vijay, while another MLA abstained.
Only 17 AIADMK legislators remained loyal to Palaniswami and voted against the government.
Political observers described the rebellion as the most serious challenge to EPS’ leadership since he took control of the party after the death of J. Jayalalithaa.
The revolt was reportedly spearheaded by senior AIADMK leaders including:
- C. V. Shanmugam
- S. P. Velumani
Sources said the dissident camp had been demanding that AIADMK support Vijay to prevent political marginalisation and stop any indirect understanding between the DMK and AIADMK.
DMK Walkout Adds More Drama
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its 59 MLAs staged a walkout before voting, escalating tensions further inside the House.
The development came days after Vijay launched a sharp attack on the previous DMK regime over Tamil Nadu’s alleged Rs 10 lakh crore debt burden and accused the earlier administration of creating “multiple power centres.”
The BJP and PMK chose a neutral stance during the proceedings.
AIADMK Faces Existential Crisis
Political analysts believe the trust vote could accelerate a full-scale split inside the AIADMK, which has struggled to regain its footing after successive electoral defeats.
The party, once a dominant Dravidian force under Jayalalithaa, has suffered setbacks in:
- 2019 Lok Sabha elections
- 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls
- 2024 Lok Sabha elections
- 2026 Assembly elections
The open rebellion now threatens to deepen leadership tensions within the party.
AIADMK leadership reacted sharply after the vote, accusing rebel MLAs of betrayal and alleging attempts to secure ministerial berths in the Vijay government.
New Political Era Takes Shape
The successful floor test now cements Vijay’s transition from cinema superstar to full-fledged political power centre in Tamil Nadu.
Observers say the vote could mark the beginning of a major political realignment in the state, with TVK rapidly emerging as the new axis around which future alliances and power equations may revolve.
As the Assembly settles into a new political era, all eyes are now on whether Vijay can convert his dramatic electoral rise into long-term governance stability.
