Published May 13, 2026 | 9:47 AM ⚊ Updated May 13, 2026 | 11:55 AM
A confidence vote was held in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Synopsis: The confidence vote is being held at the Tamil Nadu Assembly to assess the majority of the newly sworn-in Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Vijay hopes to comfortably pass the confidence vote in the state Assembly, with the support of the IUML, Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and 30 AIADMK MLAs.
The confidence vote is being held at the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday, 13 May, to assess the majority of the newly sworn-in Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
Vijay hopes to comfortably pass the confidence vote in the state Assembly, with the support of the IUML, Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and 30 AIADMK MLAs.
Chief Minister Vijay has moved the confidence motion in support of the government. The chief minister needs at least 118 votes from the 234-member Assembly to prove the majority.
The voting will be held through a headcount-based division process under Sub-Rule 3 of Rule 99 of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Rules.
The Vijay-led government secured the support of 144 MLAs in the confidence motion, while 22 members voted against it and five MLAs remained neutral.
A total of 25 MLAs from the AIADMK, led by SP Velumani, voted in support of the Vijay government, while 22 MLAs led by Edappadi K Palaniswami voted against it. Four MLAs of the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the lone MLA of the BJP cast neutral votes.
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After the motion was moved, several parties, including the Congress, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the CPI(M), extended their support to the TVK government.
“We are extending our support to this government on the basis that it must firmly oppose constituency delimitation, safeguard the rights of the State without any compromise, and ensure that the High-Level Committee on Union-State Relations functions effectively and submits its complete report. The government must also receive the report of the commission headed by retired Justice KN Basha on preventing honour killings and enact a separate law to curb such crimes,” said Vanni Arasu of the VCK.
“Further, a State law must be enacted to implement roster-based reservations in promotions for SC/ST government employees. The government should also take permanent measures to prevent attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy. It is on the basis of these demands and assurances that we are extending our support to this government,” he added.
Indian Union Muslim League’s AM Shahjahan said the party’s two MLAs extended their support to the government and urged that the people-centric welfare schemes implemented under the Dravidian Model of governance should be continued.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) MLA AM Kamaraj also extended his support to the TVK government. Notably, he was expelled by the party’s General Secretary, TTV Dinakaran.
“We are supporting the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government to ensure that State rights, social justice and secularism are protected. Communal and divisive forces must not be allowed to gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu,” said T Ramachandran of the CPI.
BJP MLA M Bhojarajan announced that the party would maintain a neutral stand. Sowmiya Anbumani of the PMK announced that the party would abstain from the trust vote, while appreciating the government’s initiatives, including the decision to close 717 Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation liquor outlets.
Premalatha Vijayakant of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) did not extend support to the government and instead said Chief Minister Vijay must respond to several issues, including the appointment of an astrological adviser to a government post and allegations of horse-trading before the formation of the government.
The Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi and Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi, all allies of the DMK, refrained from backing the TVK government during the confidence motion.
Even after AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami announced that the party members would vote against the motion, Speaker’s permission for SP Velumani to speak in the Assembly triggered protests from MLAs backing Palaniswami. The legislators raised slogans inside the House, insisting that Velumani should not be allowed to speak.
Meanwhile, Velumani announced that the AIADMK would support the resolution brought forward by Vijay.
At the same time, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin announced that DMK members would stage a walkout and abstain from participating in the voting process.
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Vijay took oath as the chief minister on 10 May with the support of 120 MLAs, after the Congress with five elected members, and the CPI, CPI(M), IUML and VCK — all four having two MLAs each — supporting the nascent party.
On Tuesday, a faction led by CV Shanmugam and SP Velumani said that the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu wholeheartedly welcomes the people’s mandate favouring Vijay as the state’s chief minister.
Earlier, AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran expelled Kamaraj from the primary membership of the party and removed him from all party responsibilities after he announced support to the TVK government.
On Tuesday, the Madras High Court restrained Seenivasa Sethupathy R, the TVK MLA from Tiruppathur constituency, from participating in the upcoming trust vote proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
The interim order was passed on a petition filed by KR Periyakaruppan, the DMK candidate who contested from the Tiruppathur Assembly constituency in Sivaganga district, and was defeated by Sethupathy with a margin of just one vote.
Later in the day, Sethupathy approached the Supreme Court, requesting an urgent hearing against the high court order. The apex court agreed to list the matter for hearing on Wednesday. In response, Periyakaruppan has filed a caveat petition urging the court not to pass any order or grant interim relief without hearing his side of the case.
