Vijay Wins Tamil Nadu Floor Test With 144 Votes As AIADMK Rift Deepens

Actor-turned-politician Vijay secured a major political victory after winning the Tamil Nadu Assembly floor test with 144 votes, officially confirming his position as Chief Minister. The dramatic trust vote also exposed a growing internal rebellion within All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), with several MLAs reportedly defying party leadership to support Vijay’s government.

What happened

• Vijay won the floor test with 144 votes in support
• 22 MLAs voted against the motion
• Five legislators reportedly abstained
• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its MLAs walked out before voting
• Around 25 AIADMK MLAs reportedly backed Vijay despite party instructions to oppose him

Vijay’s response

After the victory, Vijay said:

• “The whistle has changed history,” referring to TVK’s election symbol
• He described his administration as a “minority government”
• He promised to protect minority rights and continue governance stability

AIADMK rebellion becomes visible

The bigger political development emerged within AIADMK:

• Several MLAs reportedly defied party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS)
• Rebel factions led by leaders including CV Shanmugam reportedly pushed for supporting Vijay’s government
• The rebellion highlighted growing dissatisfaction after repeated election defeats

Why it matters

Vijay’s rise has significantly reshaped Tamil Nadu politics by breaking the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in state governance. The floor test victory strengthens his government, while the internal crisis within AIADMK could alter opposition politics in the state.

What changes

• Vijay’s government gains short-term political stability
• AIADMK may face deeper internal leadership battles
• Tamil Nadu’s political landscape could witness major realignments
• TVK’s influence is expected to expand further in state politics

Who is affected

• TVK and Vijay supporters
• AIADMK leadership and party workers
• DMK opposition bloc
• Tamil Nadu voters and political observers

What to watch next

Attention will now shift to whether AIADMK leadership takes disciplinary action against rebel MLAs and how Vijay manages coalition pressures while leading a newly formed government in Tamil Nadu.