Chennai: Chief Minister Joseph Vijay of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) easily passed floor test in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Wednesday, clinching support from 144 MLAs and cementing his government’s hold.
Allies like Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML rallied behind the administration, as BJP opted for neutrality. PMK under Anbumani Ramadoss, with four legislators, chose to abstain. Opposition came from 22 MLAs.
On May 9, Vijay had already demonstrated his numbers to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, highlighting TVK’s 108-seat haul from the assembly polls, plus backing from Congress (five seats) and two seats apiece from CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML.
This post-election pact totals 121 seats, enabling Vijay’s swearing-in as CM on May 10.
TVK’s tally dipped to 107 after Vijay relinquished Tiruchirappalli East. Tirupattur’s R Seenivasa Sethupathy couldn’t vote, sidelined by a High Court order in a dispute raised by his DMK rival, defeated by a single vote on April 23.
Internal Split Hits AIADMK Unity
Tamil Nadu politics is in flux as reports suggest AIADMK may be splitting into two rival camps — one rallying around C.V. Shanmugam and the other behind former chief minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
In a bold move amid the chaos, AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran ousted MLA S Kamaraj from membership and duties for endorsing TVK in the assembly.
Vijay’s stop at CV Shanmugam’s office has sparked talk of realigning forces in the legislature.
The test also pressured the NDA-aligned AIADMK bloc, which grabbed 47 seats.
Astrologer Row
TVK spokesperson and prominent astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel has been appointed as the Personal Secretary to Chief Minister Vijay.
The appointment of the astrologer as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Tamil Nadu CM is condemnable, said DMDK General Secretary and MLA Premalatha Vijayakanth.
Speaking in the assembly, VCK MLA Vanni Arasu noted that secular parties have extended unconditional support to the government and expressed confidence that Vijay’s government would complete its five-year term successfully.
Arasu stated that support was extended to prevent the BJP’s alleged indirect attempt to bring Governor’s rule and stressed the need to protect state rights. He also praised Vijay for meeting and receiving greetings from opposition leaders after assuming office, calling it a positive example of political civility.
The VCK MLA also sought a separate law against superstitious practices, Astrology, black magic, and fraudulent rituals, similar to laws enacted in other states.
President of Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (DMK Alliance) Thamimun Ansari also slammed the TVK government on the OSD appointment issue.
Ansari said, “Don’t include astrology formulas in the government, mainly if they believe personally it is upto them, no issue, but it should not come in government. We are not supporting TVK in the floor test.”
