After the uncertainty of last week, C. Joseph Vijay will be a relieved man today as he proves his majority in the assembly with the support of 144 MLAs, well clear of the half way mark of 117.
Along with his party TVK, Vijay got the support of MLAs from IUML, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), and Congress. The tally was further boosted by support from the AIADMK’s two dozen lawmakers.
The rift in AIADMK played out in the open in the assembly with 24 MLAs defying party boss Edappadi K Palaniswami’s order to vote against the trust vote. The camp led by CV Shanmugam and another senior leader, SP Velumani defied the order sending the Dravidian giant into turmoil.
Velumani had pledged support to Vijay a day before the trust vote, vowing that 21 of AIADMK MPs would back the actor-turned-politician’s party.
DMK staged a walkout before the vote as Vijay comfortably managed to prove his majority.
Vijay and his TVK party had shocked everyone earlier this month with a spectacular political debut winning 108 seats. However, he fell short of the majority 118 mark so a trust vote was needed.
