Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay speaks in the state Assembly during floor test, in Chennai. (@tamilnaduassembly/Yt via PTI Photo)(PTI05_13_2026_000023B)
Tamil Nadu Floor Test LIVE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday won the floor test in the Assembly, with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government securing 144 votes in favour. While 22 MLAs voted against the motion, five abstained during the confidence vote.
The floor test also exposed cracks within the AIADMK. Party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) asked MLAs to vote against the government and follow the party whip, but a rebel faction led by SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam supported Vijay. Around 25 AIADMK MLAs reportedly cross-voted during the proceedings.
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Post victory, Vijay thanked supporting parties and described the alliance as a “makkal alliance” (people’s alliance). He said the government would work for everyone in Tamil Nadu, including those who did not vote for him, and promised that his administration would focus on governance and delivery.
Key developments:
CM Vijay won the Tamil Nadu Assembly floor test with 144 votes in favour, while 22 opposed and five abstained.
Vijay secured support from Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML ahead of the confidence vote and described the coalition as a “makkal alliance” and promised governance for all.
Congress backed the TVK government with five MLAs, while CPI(M), VCK and IUML contributed two MLAs each.
Expelled AMMK MLA S Kamaraj also voted in favour of the Vijay-led government.
The floor test exposed divisions within the AIADMK, with a rebel faction supporting Vijay.
AIADMK chief EPS asked MLAs to vote against the government and follow the party whip.
Around 25 AIADMK MLAs reportedly cross-voted in support of the TVK government.
EPS alleged horse-trading and claimed MLAs were approached with cash to switch sides.
DMK, led by Udhayanidhi Stalin, abstained from the vote and walked out before the motion was passed.
Live Updates
May 13, 2026 03:11 PM IST
Tamil Nadu Assembly Floor Test LIVE: Party leader has right to appoint whip, says rebel AIADMK MLA Shanmugam
Rebel AIADMK MLA C. Ve Shanmugam told media, “As per the 10th schedule of the constitution, there is a provision, Clause 4 clearly says that the political party leader has the right to appoint the whip.”
May 13, 2026 02:24 PM IST
Vijay’s TVK wins confidence vote as AIADMK rebels cross-vote in big numbers
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday won the floor test in the State Assembly, marking the first major political victory for the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. The Vijay-led government secured 144 votes in favour during the confidence motion, while 22 MLAs voted against it and five abstained.
The trust vote was necessary after TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with 108 seats in the 234-member House. However, the party fell short of the majority mark, forcing Vijay to seek support from other parties and independents to prove his government’s stability.
The government received support from Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML. Congress backed the government with five MLAs, while CPI(M), VCK and IUML contributed two MLAs each. Expelled AMMK MLA S Kamaraj also voted in favour of the TVK government.
One of the biggest developments during the floor test was the apparent split within the AIADMK.
Party chief and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) instructed AIADMK MLAs to vote against the TVK government and warned them against violating the party whip. However, a rebel faction led by SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam supported Vijay during the proceedings. Around 25 AIADMK MLAs reportedly cross-voted in favour of the TVK government, significantly weakening the party leadership’s authority and sparking speculation about a deeper split within the opposition camp.
The DMK, led by Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, decided to abstain from the trust vote and staged a walkout before voting began.
After winning the floor test, Vijay addressed the Assembly and thanked all parties and MLAs who supported his government. He described the coalition backing the government as a “makkal alliance” or “people’s alliance” and said his administration would work for everyone in Tamil Nadu, including those who did not vote for him.
May 13, 2026 02:13 PM IST
Vijay Floor Test LIVE: AIADMK rebel camp targets EPS after 25 MLAs support CM Vijay
AIADMK rebel leader CV Shanmugam claimed that 25 party MLAs supported Chief Minister Vijay during the Tamil Nadu Assembly floor test, directly contradicting AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS). Speaking after the trust vote, Shanmugam alleged that EPS was “lying” about 47 AIADMK MLAs signing a resolution opposing support to the TVK government. He questioned when such a meeting had taken place and claimed no formal resolution was ever passed by the party legislators.
Shanmugam further alleged that the letter submitted by EPS to the Assembly Speaker was “forged.” He also asserted that C Vijaya Bhaskar was the elected AIADMK whip in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and said a party whip could not be directly appointed by the party general secretary.
He added that the Speaker had the authority to determine who commands majority support within the AIADMK and who could be recognised as the party’s Assembly leader, deputy leader and whip.
May 13, 2026 01:59 PM IST
Vijay Floor Test LIVE: Vijay removes his astrologer as Officer on Special Duty after backlash
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay removed astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vetrivel from the post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD). CM Vijay issued the order moments after he won the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with 144 votes.
Vetriviel’s appointment as the Chief Minister’s OSD had caused a huge row.
Hailing from Erode, the astrologer was once among the prominent advisers consulted by former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. However, their association reportedly came to an end after one of his major predictions did not materialise.
Vetrivel had allegedly assured Jayalalithaa that she would not face imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case. But after she was sentenced to jail in September 2014 following the court verdict, the relationship reportedly broke down. Sources familiar with the developments said Jayalalithaa discontinued consultations with him, after which Vetrivel relocated to Singapore.
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May 13, 2026 01:18 PM IST
EPS alleges Tamil Nadu Assembly rule violation after Speaker allows SP Velumani to speak
Following Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly floor test, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) objected to Speaker Prabakaran allowing rebel MLA SP Velumani to speak during the proceedings.
EPS alleged that giving an opportunity to Velumani — who is leading a separate faction of AIADMK MLAs along with CV Shanmugam, was against Assembly rules and parliamentary procedure.
May 13, 2026 12:44 PM IST
Vijay Floor Test LIVE: Vijay appoints his astrologer as OSD: Who is Radhan Pandit Vetrivel?
With actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) formally appointing astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vetrivel the Chief Minister’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), the party has brought into its inner structure a figure long associated with political astrology, numerology and high-profile predictions in Tamil Nadu’s power circles.
Vetrivel had reportedly assured Jayalalithaa that she would avoid imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case. But in September 2014, she was jailed following the verdict, prompting a rupture between the two. Soon after, according to sources familiar with the episode, Jayalalithaa stopped consulting him, and Vetrivel moved to Singapore.
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May 13, 2026 12:38 PM IST
Vijay Floor Test LIVE: TVK defends appointment of astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as OSD
On the appointment of TVK spokesperson Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as OSD to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, TVK Joint General Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar says, “He is our media person. He is already a media spokesperson. Anyone can have their own profession. But he has been our media spokesperson for a long time. He has been in the media supporting us. Their personal profession can be anything, but he’s our media person.”
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May 13, 2026 12:12 PM IST
Vijay cruises through Tamil Nadu Assembly floor test with support from 25 AIADMK MLAs
Chief Minister Vijay won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly with 144 votes in favour of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, including support from 25 AIADMK MLAs. A total of 22 MLAs voted against the motion, while five legislators abstained during the floor test proceedings. The result marks a major boost for the Vijay-led government amid intense political drama and speculation over cross-voting within the AIADMK.
May 13, 2026 11:58 AM IST
After floor test victory, Vijay says TVK government belongs to all people of Tamil Nadu
After winning the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister Vijay addressed the House and thanked all parties and legislators who supported the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government during the floor test. Calling the alliance a “makkal alliance” (people’s alliance), Vijay asserted that his government is not driven by communal politics and would work for every section of society.
He said the government belonged not only to those who voted for him, but also to those who opposed him in the elections. The Chief Minister further assured the Assembly that the TVK government would focus on governance and deliver on the promises made to the people of Tamil Nadu.
May 13, 2026 11:50 AM IST
Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam wins Tamil Nadu Assembly floor test with 144 votes
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government comfortably won the floor test crossing the majority mark during the Vote of Confidence in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday, with 144 MLAs voting for Vijay.
May 13, 2026 11:21 AM IST
DMK abstains from trust vote Tamil Nadu Assembly; Udhayanidhi Stalin says TVK lacks public mandate
DMK leader and Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said that the party would abstain from voting during the Tamil Nadu Assembly trust vote, while launching a sharp attack on the Vijay-led TVK government. Speaking during the floor test debate, Udhayanidhi claimed the TVK had failed to secure a clear public mandate in the elections and was depending on post-poll alliances to remain in power.
He alleged that nearly 65 per cent of voters had rejected Vijay as Chief Minister and accused the TVK chief of “losing faith in the people.” The DMK leader also questioned Vijay’s credibility, saying the Chief Minister “has no basic honesty in what he has said,” and raised allegations of horse-trading during the confidence vote proceedings. Taking a swipe at the NDA camp, Udhayanidhi pointed out that BJP ally Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) was now backing the TVK government. He further claimed that many people were already regretting voting for Vijay in the Assembly elections.
May 13, 2026 11:12 AM IST
Vijay Floor Test LIVE: AIADMK rebel MLA SP Velumani counters EPS’ bribe charge
Countering Edappadi K Palaniswami’s allegations of bribery and horse-trading during the Tamil Nadu Assembly floor test, rebel AIADMK MLA SP Velumani said Chief Minister Vijay had received a clear public mandate in the elections. He dismissed claims that MLAs were being influenced with cash and asserted that support for the TVK government reflected the people’s verdict.
May 13, 2026 11:05 AM IST
EPS warns AIADMK MLAs against backing Vijay, alleges horse-trading attempts
Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly during TVK government’s floor test, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) urged party MLAs not to vote in favour of Chief Minister Vijay, saying they were bound by the party whip. EPS said the AIADMK had “fought together” in the Assembly elections and secured 47 seats, adding that the party remained committed to bringing back the “MGR and Amma-style rule” in Tamil Nadu. He also alleged that there were rumours of some MLAs being approached with cash to switch sides and cautioned against any attempts at horse-trading during the trust vote proceedings.
May 13, 2026 10:51 AM IST
Vijay Floor Test LIVE: VCK, BJP and DMDK criticise Vijay for appointing astrologer OSD to CM
VCK and DMDK took a swipe at Chief Minister Vijay over the appointment of astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Tamil Nadu government. VCK MLA Vanni Arasu, whose remarks came a day after the appointment, stressed the need to promote scientific thinking over superstition. “The government should focus on scientific thinking, not astrology,” he said during the trust vote proceedings. A DMDK MLA also criticised the move, urging the government not to appoint astrologers to official posts. The BJP too attacked the decision, saying the government should “not set a bad example for the youth.”
May 13, 2026 10:44 AM IST
Allies extend support to Vijay’s TVK during floor test, pitch key demands
During the discussion on the confidence motion, TVK allies reiterated their support while also placing several demands before the government. VCK MLA Vanni Arasu said secular parties had extended unconditional support to prevent the BJP’s alleged indirect attempt to impose Governor’s rule in the state. He expressed confidence that the Vijay-led government would complete its full five-year term and praised the Chief Minister for meeting opposition leaders after assuming office.
May 13, 2026 10:40 AM IST
Expelled AMMK MLA Kamaraj backs Vijay’s TVK during Tamil Nadu Assembly floor test
Expressing his support in the Assembly, expelled Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK) MLA, Kamaraj said he would continue backing the TVK government for the next five years. “I supported the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government yesterday, I support it today, and I will continue to support it for the next five years. CM Vijay is protecting the entire state. I believe he will not leave me either,” he said.
May 13, 2026 10:35 AM IST
Vijay Floor Test LIVE: TVK crosses majority mark in Assembly during trust vote
Congress, CPI(M), VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) extended support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government as the Tamil Nadu Assembly took up the motion for the Vote of Confidence. Congress backed the Vijay-led government with its five MLAs, while CPI(M), VCK and IUML contributed two MLAs each. Expelled Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK) MLA S Kamaraj also supported the government, taking the coalition’s strength to 121 seats — comfortably above the majority mark.
May 13, 2026 10:17 AM IST
Tamil Nadu Government Floor Test LIVE: TVK gets support from Congress’ 5 MLAs, CPI(M), IUML, VCK’s 2 each
During the confidence vote proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the Congress extended support to the TVK government with its five MLAs, while the CPI(M), IUML and VCK backed the Vijay-led dispensation with two MLAs each. The support from the alliance partners further strengthened the TVK government’s numbers during the trust vote.
May 13, 2026 10:09 AM IST
Tamil Nadu Government Floor Test LIVE: AMMK expels MLA for support to TVK
MLA S Kamaraj, expelled from AMMK for support to TVK, supports govt in Assembly on trust vote.
May 13, 2026 10:02 AM IST
Tamil Nadu Government Floor Test LIVE: IUML declares support to TVK government
Among others, 2 IUML MLAs also declares support to TVK government
May 13, 2026 09:57 AM IST
Tamil Nadu Government Floor Test LIVE: Congress, CPI(M), VCK extends support to the TVK govt
Taking part in confidence vote proceedings, Congress, CPI(M), VCK extends support to the TVK govt
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