LIVE: AIADMK rebel MLAs removed from posts; Kerala CM only tomorrow
Congress's decision on Kerala CM is expected later today
The four-day-old TVK government in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday (May 13) comfortably won the trust vote with the support of 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs amid DMK's walkout and Opposition allegations of horse-trading that were rejected by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
In its confidence-boosting win, TVK romped home by a 144:22 margin, with all the 22 naysayers being the AIADMK MLAs owing allegiance to party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami. The 25 other party MLAs, from the C Ve Shanmugam-SP Velumamni camp voted in favour of the government, as announced by them earlier.
Replying to discussions over the resolution moved by him seeking vote of confidence, Vijay said his government will always be secular and would continue to implement the welfare schemes launched by previous regimes.
While the main Opposition DMK, with 59 MLAs in the 234-member House, staged a walkout slamming the government, PMK with 4 MLAs and the lone member of the BJP abstained. The Vijay-led TVK government won the trust vote also due to the support from the Congress, VCK, Left, IUML and MLA S Kamaraj, who was expelled from AMMK for supporting TVK.
In an embarrassment, the split in the AIADMK came into the open during the trust vote proceedings as the faction led by party leaders Velumani-Shanmugam voted in favour of the government.
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Live Updates
- 13 May 2026 7:21 PM IST
After 9 days of delay, Kerala CM to be decided tomorrow
The Congress will announce its chief ministerial pick in Kerala on Thursday, the party said in Delhi after days of suspense, intense lobbying and marathon discussions.
After an almost 40-minute meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter's residence, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the decision on the next Kerala chief minister will be announced tomorrow as the party high command has completed all discussions in this regard.
The suspense over the party's pick would end 10 days after the results of the Assembly elections were declared. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) had won over two-thirds majority in the Kerala Assembly polls.
"As authorised by the members of the CLP in Kerala, the high command of the Congress has completed all discussions, and the decision on who the next chief minister of Kerala will be will be announced tomorrow," Ramesh said.
Congress' allies in the UDF favour Satheesan, who also enjoys huge support among the public as well as party workers on the ground. However, with the powerful AICC general secretary Venugopal throwing his hat in the ring, the choice has not been easy for the party high command.
- 13 May 2026 7:04 PM IST
EPS removes 25 MLAs from party posts after Assembly revolt
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday removed several senior leaders, including S. P. Velumani, C. Ve. Shanmugam and C. Vijayabaskar, from their organisational posts in the party.
The move followed open defiance by a group of rebel legislators, including Natham R. Viswanathan, who went against the party directive and voted in support of the TVK government during the confidence motion held in the Assembly earlier in the day.
In the aftermath, Palaniswami removed 25 MLAs from their party positions and appointed new district secretaries in their place.
- 13 May 2026 5:31 PM IST
Kerala Governor, outgoing CM meet at Lok Bhavan; express gratitude to each other
Outgoing Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday met with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at his official residence in Thiruvananthapuram.
Vijayan met the Governor and both leaders expressed gratitude to each other, a Lok Bhavan statement said.
Arlekar also extended warm wishes and good health to the Marxist veteran and his family, it said.
Vijayan had tendered his resignation to the Governor a day after the Assembly poll results were declared on May 4.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) returned to power in Kerala in the April 9 Assembly elections with a decisive mandate, ending the CPI(M)-led LDF's tenure in the state.
- 13 May 2026 5:29 PM IST
Delay in Kerala CM selection shows 'political uncertainty': RSP MP Premachandran
The RSP, a UDF coalition partner, expressed strong displeasure with the delay in CM selection by the Congress, with the party's MP N K Premachandran terming the situation as a "political uncertainty" which was "unfortunate".
Premachandran, and his party colleague Shibu Baby John, were also displeased with Congress leader M M Hassan's recent remark that coalition partners have no role in deciding the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in Kerala.
John, the MLA elect from Chavara assembly seat in Kollam district, told reporters that he was not responding to such remarks as the RSP worked with the Congress till now and intends to do so going forward.
"Since we worked together till now and intend to do so going forward, I am not saying what needs to be said using colloquial language,"he said.
He conceded that technically speaking, Hassan was correct and Congress decides its leaders.
"But, I am not replying to M M Hassan now. I do not think it is required. All I have to say is that we too have worked hard a lot for this result. What he said is right. We have no intention of interfering in the matter by suggesting any name.
"However, to say no one else has any business in it... I am not responding to that," John said.
He further said that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was the second largest coalition partner in the UDF and if its view is sought, it would indicate the same and there is nothing wrong in that.
He also said that, like everyone else, he too was waiting for the Congress' CM announcement and expected that it would happen during the day.
Earlier in the day, Premachandran told a TV channel here that in the discussions with observers sent by the Congress, the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) had clearly indicated its stand on the issue.
"After the people of Kerala granted such a huge mandate to the UDF, the political uncertainty in deciding a CM even after 10 days of declaration of the poll results is extremely unfortunate," the RSP MP said.
- 13 May 2026 5:28 PM IST
SC stays order barring TVK MLA from floor test, terms Madras HC directive 'atrocious'
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the Madras High Court order that had restrained TVK MLA R Sreenivasa Sethupathi from participating in the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, saying such a directive under writ jurisdiction was "atrocious".
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu crossed the major hurdle on Wednesday, winning a confidence-boosting trust vote by a 144:22 margin amid a walkout by the principal Opposition party DMK and a divided AIADMK whose one faction supported the C Joseph Vijay-led government.
"This is atrocious to say the least. The high court says the remedy is election petition but still entertains the Article 226 petition," a Bench of justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi observed while hearing the plea.
Article 226 of the Constitution empowers high courts to issue writs of various nature to do complete justice. However, any order with regard to cancellation of an elected candidate can only be passed on an election petition filed by defeated candidate or a related party.
While issuing notice on Sethupathi's plea challenging the high court's May 12 interim order, the apex court also stayed the proceedings pending before the high court in the matter.
"In the meantime, the effect and operation of the impugned order shall remain stayed and further proceedings before the high court in pending writ petition shall also remain stayed," the top court said.
Sethupathi had won the No.185 Tiruppattur Assembly constituency in Sivagangai district by a margin of a single vote against Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and former minister KR Periakaruppan.
The apex court granted two weeks' time to Periakaruppan and other respondents to file their counter-affidavits on Sethupathi's plea.
"Rejoinder affidavit be filed within two weeks thereto. List thereafter," the Bench said.
- 13 May 2026 4:49 PM IST
Watch | A legal view of Vijay's floor test victory
Vijay won the crucial trust vote in the State Assembly as the opposition DMK staged a walkout. In a significant development, AIADMK MLAs were seen voting both for and against the new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, underscoring the growing tussle between the EPS and CV Shanmugam factions in the aftermath of the party’s poll debacle. What's the legal reading of the situation. Watch The Federal in conversation with legal journalist V Venkatesan.
- 13 May 2026 3:02 PM IST
IUML awaits Congress call on Kerala CM decision
As Congress leaders in Delhi moved closer to naming Kerala’s next chief minister, the IUML said it would reveal its position only after the final call. Meeting at Panakkad under Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, senior leader P K Kunhalikutty said the party had empowered Thangal for further consultations.
“We are waiting for a decision from the Congress high command in Delhi in this regard,” he said. “The meeting discussed all related matters and authorised Thangal to take further decisions. We will take a call after the high command announces the chief minister,” he added.
Calling the delay "natural", Kunhalikutty insisted governance had not suffered. “We hope a decision will come at the earliest,” he said.
The Congress continued to face pressure from allies, rivals, and internal factions even after the UDF’s electoral victory, with leadership discussions and power-sharing talks still underway in New Delhi and across Kerala.
- 13 May 2026 2:32 PM IST
Suvendu Adhikari to keep Bhabanipur, vacate Nandigram seat
West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced that he would retain the Bhabanipur Assembly seat and vacate Nandigram, paving the way for a bypoll in the politically charged constituency. Adhikari took oath in the State Assembly as MLA from Bhabanipur, one of the two seats he won in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
Addressing reporters at the Assembly premises in Kolkata, the Chief Minister said his decision to leave Nandigram would not affect his commitment to the constituency, promising to deliver on every development assurance made during the campaign.
Recalling his long political association with the region, Adhikari said he had worked for Nandigram even when he was not its elected representative and would continue to do so. In the election, he defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur while also successfully defending his influence in Nandigram.
- 13 May 2026 1:14 PM IST
AIADMK split 25-22 during trust vote; rebels have majority
Of the 47 AIADMK members of the TN Assembly, 25 are with the CV Shanmugam-SP Velumani faction who voted in support of the TVK government, while 22 are with party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami. Disqualification proceedings may be initiated by the EPS team against the rebel group. - 13 May 2026 1:03 PM IST
CM Vijay revokes astrologer's appointment
A day after his appointment of his personal astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (political) drew massive flak from allies as well as rivals, CM Joseph Vijay revoked the order shortly after passing the floor test in the Assembly. DMDK's Premalatha Vijayakanth reiterated her condemnation of the appointment despite extending her support to the Vijay government.
