‘65% voters didn’t back TVK’: Udhayanidhi questions Vijay govt’s mandate during Tamil Nadu floor test

CHENNAI: The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by chief minister Vijay won the floor test in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday with the support of several parties and independent MLAs. The motion received 144 votes in favour, while 22 MLAs voted against it and five abstained.

Before the voting, Speaker rang the quorum bell three times and ordered the Assembly doors to be closed. The Supreme Court also stayed a Madras high court order that had restrained TVK Tirupattur MLA Srinivasa Sethupathi from participating in the floor test.



After the victory, CM Vijay thanked parties and MLAs for supporting the government. He said TVK had emerged as the single largest party in a mandate comparable to the 1967 and 1977 elections and missed an absolute majority by a narrow margin.

“If some want to call this a minority government, we accept it happily. We will protect minority communities and govern for all sections of people,” Vijay said, assuring that his government would follow secular and social justice principles.

During the debate, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said 65% of voters had not supported TVK in the 2026 Assembly polls. Referring to the vote share, he argued that the ruling party lacked a broader public mandate. He said TVK effectively had 106 MLAs after one resignation and a court order restraining another MLA from voting.

Udhayanidhi alleged that the government survived because of support from parties in the DMK alliance, which backed the motion to avoid President’s rule while continuing in the secular alliance. He also questioned support extended by an MLA elected as part of the NDA without the consent of the parent party.

The DMK later abstained from the trust vote and walked out of the House. Udhayanidhi urged the Vijay government to continue welfare schemes introduced by the previous DMK regime, including Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai, the breakfast scheme for students, Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan schemes. He also said people were waiting for TVK’s election promises such as free LPG cylinders and marriage assistance schemes.

Several parties and MLAs extended support to the Vijay government during the debate.

Congress MLA Rajesh Kumar said five MLAs were supporting TVK to prevent what he called BJP’s indirect rule in Tamil Nadu.

The CPM announced support to the government, saying it would back people-centric schemes while opposing policies if required.

VCK also backed the government to prevent President’s rule in the state. MLA Vanni Arasu urged the government to focus on delimitation, state rights, anti-caste killing legislation, continuation of the Kurien panel and Justice GM Akbar Ali committee, and to oppose astrology and superstition.

Two IUML MLAs supported the government and welcomed the closure of TASMAC shops as a good beginning. They also thanked MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi Stalin and sought continuation of the Dravidian model welfare schemes.

Mannargudi MLA Kamaraj, who was expelled by AMMK leader TTV Dinakaran, also extended support to the Vijay government during the floor test. “Chief Minister Vijay will protect me just as he protects everyone in the state,” he said.

Two CPI MLAs also backed the government in the trust vote.

DMDK MLA Premalatha welcomed the TASMAC closures and Singapenn scheme, but also raised questions over the appointment of Ranjan Pandit as officer on special duty after Vijay’s remarks against political dynasty rule. She also alleged attempts at horse-trading.

Responding to the allegations, Vijay denied any horse-trading by his government. “Our government did not engage in such practices. We are functioning at the speed of a horse,” he remarked.

PMK MLA Sowmiya Anbumani supported liquor prohibition and sought strict action against illegal mining.

MJK MLA Thameemun Ansari said personal beliefs should not influence governance. He opposed astrology-linked decision-making and the appointment of Radhan Pandit as Vijay’s OSD.

BJP MLA Bhojarajan criticised the debate, saying it resembled an anti-BJP campaign meeting. He urged the Speaker to remove remarks made by Congress MLA Rajesh Kumar from the Assembly records.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said all 47 AIADMK MLAs would vote against the trust motion. He said the party was functioning according to the vision of MGR and J Jayalalithaa and would continue to act as a responsible opposition raising people’s issues in the Assembly.

EPS also referred to reports of share-in-power assurances and alleged attempts to influence factions within the AIADMK. He said 66% of voters had not supported TVK in the 2026 polls.

Some AIADMK MLAs objected to the opportunity given to SP Velumani to speak, but the Speaker said the decision rested with the Chair.

SP Velumani thanked Vijay for announcing the free electricity scheme following the path shown by Jayalalithaa. He said AIADMK respected the people’s mandate and was supporting the government not for power, but in deference to the public verdict.

CM Vijay later assured the House that welfare schemes introduced by previous governments would continue. He also said concerns raised by DMDK would be reconsidered and promised to work for people’s welfare.