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 12:03 PM IST
Vijay says he'll reconsider astrologer's appointment
Facing criticism from allies and rivals over appointing astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vetrivel as OSD in his office, Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay said during the floor test that he would reconsider the move. The backlash included Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which supports the TVK-led government externally with two MLAs. - 13 May 2026 11:46 AM IST
TN CM Vijay passes floor test
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay won the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, with the confidence motion receiving the support of 144 members.
A total of 22 MLAs voted against the motion, while five members remained neutral. The victory ensures the continuation of the TVK government.
- 13 May 2026 11:31 AM IST
Trust voting process underway
Voting on the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is currently underway in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.With the effective strength of the Assembly reduced following the walkout by the DMK, the majority mark for the confidence motion has dropped from 117 to 88 in the 232-member House, giving the TVK government a comfortable advantage in the trust vote.
- 13 May 2026 11:28 AM IST
CM Vijay responds to Confidence Motion
Replying to the debate on the confidence motion, Chief Minister Joseph Vijay said his government would remain “secular” in its functioning.
“This government will function with the speed of a horse and not indulge in horse trading,” Vijay said while addressing the Assembly.
- 13 May 2026 11:23 AM IST
DMK walks out of the Assembly
Speaking during the trust vote debate in the Assembly, Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin announced that members of the DMK would walk out during the confidence motion.
Following Stalin’s speech opposing support to the TVK government, DMK members staged a walkout from the Assembly.
- 13 May 2026 11:05 AM IST
AIADMK rift: EPS faction against TVK; S P Velumani supports TVK government
Edappadi K Palaniswami, general secretary of the AIADMK, said the party would oppose the trust vote moved by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
Palaniswami stated that all 47 AIADMK MLAs would vote against the motion. He also questioned whether it was appropriate for the Chief Minister to have met rebel AIADMK legislators.
His remarks triggered a commotion in the Assembly after Speaker Prabhakar invited rebel AIADMK leader S P Velumani, of C Ve Shamugam faction, to participate in the trust vote debate. AIADMK members objected strongly, but the Speaker maintained that he had the authority to allow any member to speak in the House.
Velumani began his address amid loud protests from supporters of Palaniswami. He extended his support to the TVK government.
- 13 May 2026 10:55 AM IST
MJK opposes confidence motion
Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi leader M Thamimun Ansari said his party was opposing the confidence motion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Speaking during the trust vote debate, Ansari criticised the appointment of astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty in the Chief Minister’s Office.
He said astrology could not be part of governance and termed the appointment “unacceptable.”
- 13 May 2026 10:52 AM IST
DMK ally MMK votes against TVK government
Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, a DMK ally, voted against the confidence motion, with party leader M H Jawahirullah opposing the TVK government in the Assembly. - 13 May 2026 10:41 AM IST
BJP stays neutral in confidence motion
BJP maintained a neutral stand during the confidence motion in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
- 13 May 2026 10:35 AM IST
PMK abstains from voting
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) abstained from voting during the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.During her speech, Soumiya Anbumani praises the TVK government's effort on closure of 717 liquor shops and women's safety.
