Vijay Wins Floor Test With 144 Votes As AIADMK Split Changes Game

Chennai: In Tamil Nadu politics, actor-turned-politician Vijay won the trust vote in the assembly in a huge show of strength. TVK government got the support of 144 MLAs in the floor test, after which Vijay government officially proved its majority. During this period, the factionalism that came to the fore within AIADMK made the most headlines. A faction of the party voted in support of the Vijay government, while the EPS faction stood in opposition. 

Did the breakup of AIADMK change the entire equation?

Even before the floor test, signs of rebellion had started appearing in AIADMK. The faction led by leaders like SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam decided to support the Vijay government. At the same time, Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) faction had instructed the party MLAs to vote against the government. But cross voting and support in the House completely changed the political equations. 

Which parties supported Vijay government?

Vijay's TVK received support from parties like Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML. Apart from this, some independent and expelled MLAs were also seen standing in favor of the government. During the trust vote, many parties said that they wanted to avoid political instability and a president's rule like situation in Tamil Nadu. 

Did DMK adopt a different strategy?

During the floor test, DMK adopted a different strategy instead of taking direct confrontation. According to reports, many party MLAs walked out of the House before voting. Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin had already indicated that the DMK was looking at this trust vote from a different perspective. 

Why is this floor test considered important?

This floor test was considered important not only for the Vijay government but also for the entire politics of Tamil Nadu. TVK contested the elections for the first time and won 108 seats but fell short of the majority. After this, Vijay formed the government by gathering the support of small parties and opposition groups. Now by securing 144 votes he has made it clear that his government is currently in a strong position. 

Now after this floor test, the discussion about the formation of new equations in Tamil Nadu politics has intensified.