Aktamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay won a crucial vote of confidence in the state Assembly on Wednesday, with the support of 144 MLAs, including lawmakers from his party TVK.
Small parties like IUML, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and Congress were quick to show their support for Vijay, soon taking TVK’s tally to 117, exactly the number needed to prove a majority.
However, the tally improved further for Vijay’s team as an internal rift opened in the AIADMK in the Assembly. AIADMK chief Edapaddi Palaniswami opposed the confidence vote and said that all the party’s 47 MLAs would stand against TVK, and the rival faction led by SP Velumani proved him wrong moments later.
Velumani had pledged support to Vijay the previous day, pledging that 21 AIADMK MPs would support the actor-turned-politician’s party. After the vote-counting process finished during the floor test, this is where the score stood when supporting TVK:
AIADMK rebel faction: 25
Congress: 5
Consumer Price Index: 2
CBIM: 2
IML: 2
VCK:2
Your mother: 1
The victory in the floor test came as a major development for Vijay, who had been engaged in a power tussle for several days despite TVK’s stunning show in the Tamil Nadu elections. The party barely obtained a 118th majority when the results were announced on May 4.
After days of suspense, Vijay received an invitation from Governor RV Arlikar to form the government, and the actor-turned-politician took oath as chief minister on Sunday, May 10.
As per rules, Vijay was required to prove majority in the Assembly after taking oath. while
