Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay wins floor test in Assembly comfortably with 144 votes after AIADMK split

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay addresses the Legislative Assembly after the floor test in Chennai on May 13, 2026 | Photo Credit: ANI/@CMOTamilnadu

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay easily won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, with the support of Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML, as well as 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs and the lone AMMK MLA.

Following the withdrawal of DMK MPs and lone DMDK MLA Premallatha Vijayakant, the confidence motion moved by Mr. Vijay was put to vote by Speaker JCD Prabhakar, despite AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s opposition to allowing rebel AIADMK leader and confidant S.P. Velumani until a few days ago to speak on behalf of the party.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Assembly session LIVE – 13 May 2026

Mr Velumani’s team has pledged support to Mr Vijay. In the end, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) got 144 votes, while 22 MPs from Mr Palaniswami’s wing opposed it. Four PMK MLAs and a single BJP MLA ‘abstained’ from the vote.

Vijay thanks voters and MLAs

Thanking everyone in the House, Mr. Vijay said the people had lost faith in the TVK government, just as they had done in 1967 and 1977 to usher in “governments of the common people”. The “whistle revolution” had achieved more than 34.92% of the votes to elect TVK as the only major party in less than three years from its founding.

“The majority was missed by a narrow margin. If anyone thinks that this is a minority government, we are happy. This is a minority government that will truly protect the rights of minorities,” he said, adding that his government was for everyone, which was also reflected in the confidence motion. The Prime Minister also promised a democratic, secular regime based on social justice.

Reiterating that this is “people’s rule”, Vijay said the government is for the good of everyone and the people will realize this as time goes by. “This government is not a government that displays authority or hatred. The well-being of the people and society is important. This is the only purpose of this government,” he said.