Tamil Nadu is bracing for a decisive political battle today as Chief Minister Vijay's TVK government seeks to prove its majority through a floor test in the Assembly. The confidence vote follows days of intense negotiations, alliance meetings, and dramatic shifts within the opposition camp.
Floor Test and Majority Claims
Ahead of the trust vote, Vijay held back-to-back meetings with alliance partners and supporting legislators in Chennai to consolidate numbers. The TVK government has secured support from Congress, VCK, IUML, a breakaway faction of the AIADMK, and AMMK MLA S. Kamaraj. With allies rallying behind the ruling camp, the government now claims the backing of around 150 MLAs in the 234-member House, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 118.
AIADMK Split
The floor test has triggered a major split within the AIADMK. While the Edappadi K. Palaniswami-led faction instructed party MLAs not to support the TVK government and warned of strict disciplinary action against those defying the whip, another faction led by S. P. Velumani extended support to Vijay. The rebel camp, which claims the backing of nearly 30 MLAs, announced its decision after a meeting at senior leader C. V. Shanmugam's residence.
AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP IS Inbadurai asserted that any MLA acting against the official whip would face disqualification under the anti-defection law. In a post on X, Inbadurai said the party leadership under General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has appointed the official whip, and any deviation would attract provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
VCK Support and President's Rule Concerns
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan declared unconditional support to Vijay, saying the move aimed at preventing the imposition of President's rule in Tamil Nadu if the government failed to secure the numbers. Vijay, who entered politics after a successful film career, intensified outreach efforts, meeting Congress, VCK, IUML, and AIADMK leaders to ensure smooth passage of the confidence motion.
Major Governance Decisions
In one of his first major governance decisions, CM Vijay ordered the closure of 717 government-run TASMAC liquor retail outlets located within a 500-metre radius of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stations within two weeks. According to an official release, TASMAC operates 4,765 liquor shops across the state, of which 717 were found violating distance norms. The closures include 276 outlets near places of worship, 186 near educational institutions, and 255 near bus stands. The decision is significant as TASMAC is a major revenue generator, even as demands for liquor shop closures have echoed across party lines for years.
Appointment of OSD
TVK spokesperson and astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister (Political). Pandit, known for his dual role as an astrologer and spokesperson, has been a close aide during the recent electoral campaign.
Speaker Election and CM's Maiden Speech
CM Vijay congratulated JCD Prabhakar and M Ravishankar on assuming offices as Speaker and Deputy Speaker. In his maiden speech, Vijay asserted that the Assembly must function as both the 'heart and brain' of democracy. He stated that the TVK proposed Prabhakar to ensure every voice is equally valued. 'Even parties represented by a single member must have their views valued equally alongside those of the TVK. Good suggestions must be accepted, unsuitable ones rejected. This Assembly must function as both the heart and brain of democracy,' Vijay said.
Supreme Court to Hear Plea on MLA Restraint
The Supreme Court is slated to hear a plea by TVK MLA R. Seenivasa Sethupathi challenging the Madras High Court's interim order restraining him from participating in floor test proceedings amid a dispute over his one-vote victory from Tiruppattur. The plea was mentioned for urgent hearing before CJI Surya Kant, and the top court agreed to list the matter for Wednesday. The High Court had restrained Sethupathi from voting or taking part in any floor test until further orders, while hearing a petition by DMK leader KR Periakaruppan, who lost by a single vote.
RSS Comments on Sanatan
RSS second-in-command Dattatreya Hosabale compared Sanatan to a banyan tree, hitting out at DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin for calling for its eradication. 'Sanatan is the spirit and soul of this nation. It is not a religious practice but a value and worldview. It is like a banyan tree, ever fresh and always ancient,' Hosabale said in an interview.
