Tamil Nadu floor test today, CM Vijay banks on allies to survive crucial vote

Vijay heads into the floor test after securing VCK support and meeting allies across parties. He currently has the support of 120 MLAs, a thin margin above the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member House.

In Short

• VCK extends unconditional support, boosting TVK numbers before trust vote
• Vijay met Congress, IUML and VCK leaders during sustained outreach efforts
• AIADMK rebel support, allies likely ensure Vijay clears Assembly trust vote

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to face his first trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly today. While the numbers appear to favour the newly sworn-in chief minister, the lead up to the floor test has been marked by fast-moving alliances, intensive political deliberations, a court intervention and an open rebellion within the opposition AIADMK.

Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly election with 108 seats, but remained 10 short of the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member House. However, since Vijay won two seats and would resign from one of them, the shortfall rose to 11.

Since then, the actor-turned-politician has stitched together support from the Congress (5), the Indian Union Muslim League (2), Communist Party of India (2), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (2) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (2), taking the ruling coalition’s strength to 120.

Even with one legislator temporarily barred from participating in the Assembly proceedings, including the floor test, the coalition remains above the majority line, making the trust vote appear manageable.

VCK CHIEF VOWS UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT

A key boost for the TVK came from VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, who confirmed that his party’s two MLAs would vote in favour of Vijay.

Explaining the move, Thirumavalavan said his party wanted to prevent any possibility of President’s rule in the state if the government failed to prove its numbers.

“Our party, VCK has decided to form this secular government in Tamil Nadu under his leadership. He visited former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin's residence. It's a new culture he formulated. We welcome this kind of attitude of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Our party members will vote for him in this confidence motion,” he said.

Vijay spent Tuesday holding a string of meetings with alliance partners and rivals alike, underlining his effort to consolidate support before the vote.

He met Congress leaders at the party’s state headquarters in Chennai, visited Thirumavalavan at his residence, and also called on IUML leaders.

THE AIADMK SHAKE UP

In a politically significant move, Vijay also met rebel AIADMK leaders CV Shanmugam and SP Velumani. The AIADMK won 47 seats in the elections.

The meeting with the AIADMK dissidents has added to the turmoil within the opposition camp.

A group of around 30 AIADMK MLAs led by Shanmugam and Velumani has announced support to the TVK government, openly challenging party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.

The rebels accused Palaniswami of exploring support from the DMK to form an alternative government, a charge rejected by both AIADMK leadership and the DMK.

Shanmugam defended the move, saying the party had to adapt to political reality after its poor showing in the election.

He said the AIADMK should support TVK to revive what he described as “Amma rule,” referring to late former chief minister J Jayalalithaa.

The official AIADMK faction has, however, issued a whip against the government.

Senior leader Agri SS Krishnamurthy said all 47 party MLAs have been instructed to vote against the confidence motion and warned that any cross-voting would invite action under the anti-defection law.

TVK MLA BARRED FROM HOUSE

Another complication emerged after the Madras High Court restrained TVK MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathy from participating in the trust vote. Sethupathi had won the Tiruppattur seat by a margin of one vote, and his election was challenged by DMK’s KR Periakaruppan over alleged vote counting irregularities.

The court’s interim order reduces TVK’s effective tally from 120 to 119, still one above the required number.

The matter has now reached the Supreme Court, which is expected to hear Sethupathy’s challenge on Wednesday.

LONE AMMK MLA SACKED

Meanwhile, adding to the drama was the controversy that erupted over the support claimed by the TVK from Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) MLA Kamaraj.

AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran accused the TVK of using a forged support letter and an AI-generated video to falsely project his MLA’s backing.

TVK denied the charge and released footage purportedly showing the MLA signing the letter. Kamaraj has since been removed from AMMK.

Despite the noise, Vijay enters the Assembly with a numerical cushion. With declared support from 120 MLAs, and even after the temporary disqualification bringing the active tally to 119, the chief minister appears positioned to clear the trust vote unless unexpected abstentions or legal developments alter the equation at the last minute.

- Ends
With agency inputs