Chennai, 13 May (H.S.):Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday comfortably won the confidence motion in the Legislative Assembly, securing 144 votes in favour of the TVK-led government amid high political drama, divisions within the AIADMK and a walkout by the DMK.

While 22 MLAs voted against the motion, five abstained. Soon after the trust vote concluded, the Tamil Nadu Assembly was adjourned sine die.

The proceedings witnessed repeated disruptions after rebel AIADMK legislators led by S.P. Velumani openly backed the Vijay government, defying AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who had directed all party MLAs to oppose the motion.

Tension escalated after Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar allowed Velumani to speak during the debate despite strong objections from AIADMK members loyal to Palaniswami. The Speaker maintained that he had the authority to permit any legislator to participate in the discussion.

Velumani later led the rebel AIADMK MLAs in voting for the confidence motion, exposing the widening internal rift within the principal opposition party.

Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin led all DMK MLAs out of the Assembly after sharply attacking the TVK government during the debate. Stalin questioned Vijay’s meetings with rebel AIADMK legislators and alleged that the government was relying on political defections for survival.

“What is happening in Tamil Nadu is not change, but exchange,” Stalin remarked before staging the walkout.

Replying to the debate before the vote, Chief Minister Vijay defended his government and asserted that the administration would function on secular and democratic principles.

“This government will function with the speed of a horse and not indulge in horse trading,” Vijay said in a pointed response to the opposition criticism.

He also assured the House that all major welfare schemes implemented by previous governments would continue under the new administration.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman