Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay comfortably proved his majority in the state Assembly on Wednesday, securing the support of 144 MLAs in a high-voltage trust vote filled with political drama, heated confrontations, rebellion inside the AIADMK, and a dramatic walkout by the DMK.
The floor test came just three days after Vijay took oath as chief minister following the historic rise of his party, Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. After emerging as the single-largest party, TVK had raced to secure backing from smaller allies to form the government.
With Wednesday’s trust vote victory, Vijay has now firmly established his authority in Tamil Nadu politics, marking yet another major milestone in his rapid transition from cinema superstar to full-time political leader.
The trust vote, however, unfolded with scenes that resembled a political thriller. Chaos erupted inside the Assembly after divisions surfaced within the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led AIADMK. While party chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced that all AIADMK MLAs would oppose Vijay’s government, a rebel faction led by senior leaders C V Shanmugam and SP Velumani openly backed TVK during the vote.
The rebel group argued that supporting Vijay respected the people’s mandate and accused the rival AIADMK camp of indirectly helping the DMK. Their decision triggered intense exchanges on the Assembly floor as both factions confronted each other during proceedings.
Although the rebel bloc initially claimed support from 30 AIADMK legislators, Vijay eventually received backing from 25 MLAs linked to the split faction, strengthening his majority well beyond the required number.
The drama intensified further when Udhayanidhi Stalin launched a sharp attack on both Vijay and the AIADMK rebels during the debate. Stalin criticised the rebel MLAs for supporting Vijay despite contesting the elections as part of the NDA alliance with the BJP.
He also accused Vijay of failing to visit his Trichy (East) constituency after the election victory to thank voters personally. Claiming that nearly 65% of the state had not voted for TVK, Stalin announced that the DMK would walk out of the Assembly before the voting process.
“We are walking out of the Assembly. Once we walk out, you will get the majority,” Stalin said while addressing the House.
Another controversy erupted over Vijay’s appointment of astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the chief minister. Several opposition leaders and even some allies criticised the move, arguing that personal beliefs should not influence official government appointments.
Leaders from parties including MJK and DMDK questioned why an astrologer was given a government role instead of a personal advisory position. The criticism appeared to have an immediate impact, as the Tamil Nadu government revoked Vettrivel’s appointment shortly after Vijay secured the trust vote.
Despite the turbulence, Vijay struck a calm and confident tone in his address after winning the floor test. Thanking all MLAs who supported him, the chief minister promised that his administration would remain secular, inclusive, and focused on ordinary people.
“There will be no discrimination between those who voted and those who didn’t. This is a government for everyone,” Vijay said in the Assembly.
The actor-turned-politician also declared that his government would not engage in “horse trading” and instead focus on governance, social justice, equal opportunity, and protecting Tamil Nadu’s cultural identity.
Vijay described his administration as a “government of the common people” that would rise above caste and religious divisions while ensuring fairness and dignity for all communities.
The dramatic trust vote has now cemented Vijay’s position at the centre of Tamil Nadu politics, with supporters celebrating the beginning of a new political era while opponents continue to question the stability of the newly formed alliance.
