Congress, CPI, CPI (M), VCK and IUML extended support to the government while the BJP maintained its “neutral” stance. Anbumani Ramadoss-led PMK, which has four MLAs, said it was “abstaining.” Vijay was opposed by 22 MLAs in the state Assembly.
The DMK front staged a walkout, reducing the total strength of the House during the voting. The number of MLAs supporting Vijay depicted that a block of AIADMK rebels disobeyed the party whip and voted against it.
Earlier on May 9, actor-turned politician Vijay proved the majority numbers to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar with his party winning 108 seats in the state Assembly elections, and further gaining support from Congress (five seats), along with the CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML, which contributed two seats each.
The post-poll coalition’s strength currently stands at 121 seats, which helped Vijay take the oath as the Chief Minister on May 10.
Also read: AIADMK Rift: Separate entries, separate letters
The ruling TVK has an overall strength of 107, since Vijay dropped the Tiruchirappalli East seat. The 107 count. The party’s Tirupattur MLA, R Seenivasa Sethupathy, was not able to cast his vote due to a High Court ruling in a case filed by his rival DMK candidate, who lost to the TVK legislator by one vote in the April 23 polls.
Tamil Nadu politics has witnessed numerous twists and turns in the dynamics, with fresh speculations of a split within the AIADMK party with the emergence of two factions – one led by CV Shanmugam and another aligned with former Chief Minister and party General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Amid rift, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran expelled party MLA S Kamaraj from the primary membership of the party and removed him from all party responsibilities after he extended support to the TVK government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Amid speculations, Vijay had visited former Tamil Nadu minister CV Shanmugam’s office, signalling a potential shift in the state’s legislative alliances.
The floor test for Vijay also marked a major test for the AIADMK front, which is a part of the NDA camp in Tamil Nadu, which secured 47 seats in the state.
Astrologer row
TVK spokesperson and prominent astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel has been appointed as the Personal Secretary to Chief Minister Vijay.
The appointment of the astrologer as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Tamil Nadu CM is condemnable, said DMDK General Secretary and MLA Premalatha Vijayakanth.
Speaking in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, VCK MLA Vanni Arasu noted that secular parties have extended unconditional support to the government and expressed confidence that Vijay’s government would complete its five-year term successfully.
Arasu stated that support was extended to prevent the BJP’s alleged indirect attempt to bring Governor’s rule and stressed the need to protect state rights. He also praised Vijay for meeting and receiving greetings from opposition leaders after assuming office, calling it a positive example of political civility.
The VCK MLA also sought a separate law against superstitious practices, Astrology, black magic, and fraudulent rituals, similar to laws enacted in other states.
President of Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (DMK Alliance) Thamimun Ansari also slammed the TVK government on the OSD appointment issue.
Ansari said, “Don’t include astrology formulas in the government, mainly if they believe personally it is upto them, no issue, but it should not come in government. We are not supporting TVK in the floor test.”
