Chennai, May 13 The Vijay government passed the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay presented the confidence motion. The CM received the support of 144 MLAs, while only 22 voted against.
On the other hand, high political drama unfolded during the trust vote proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday. The DMK, led by opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, staged a walkout from the House. Udhayanidhi launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and questioned the legitimacy of the TVK-led government’s majority.
Speaking during the debate on the confidence motion, Udhayanidhi Stalin alleged that the ruling coalition lacked the 118 required to prove its majority in the 234-member Assembly.
On the floor of the House, Udhayanidhi Stalin said, “You don’t have the 118 seats required for a majority.” Unsure of winning, the Chief Minister contested from two seats and later resigned from one. He has yet to thank the public.
The DMK leader pointed out that the Madras High Court barred the Tirupattur MLA from participating in the trust vote, reducing the ruling party’s effective strength. He alleged that due to the court order, the ruling party has only 106 members. “This government is running solely with the support of parties that contested and won the election as part of our alliance.”
Udhayanidhi Stalin also criticized the new government’s functioning, accusing it of prioritizing image enhancement over governance. He said, “Instead of ruling through Instagram reels, they should demonstrate some real governance.”
Udhayanidhi also criticized Chief Minister Vijay, who reportedly met with rebel AIADMK leaders before the trust vote. He questioned whether these developments reflected change or bargaining politics. He said people are asking if this is the “clean governance” that was promised. He announced that DMK MLAs would walk out of the Assembly during the trust vote.
Meanwhile, AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister A. Palaniswami questioned the Chief Minister’s meeting with the party’s rebel MLAs and vowed to oppose the confidence motion. However, the faction led by S.P. Velumani voted in support of the confidence motion.
Meanwhile, the issue of the National Testing Agency (NTA) canceling the NEET-UG 2026 exam also figured prominently in the debate.
