Tamil Nadu: Vijay Wins Trust Vote, 24 AIADMK MLAs Vote For Him

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, May 13, 2026: Actor-turned-politician Vijay was on Wednesday confirmed as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after winning a dramatic trust vote in the Assembly following last month’s historic election victory of his party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Vijay secured the support of 144 legislators in the confidence motion, while 22 voted against him and five abstained. The trust vote took place after the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its 59 MLAs staged a walkout, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) directed its legislators to oppose the motion.

Addressing supporters after the victory, Vijay said the TVK’s election symbol “the whistle” had “changed history” and described his administration as “a government that will protect the rights of minorities.”

The trust vote became necessary after the TVK fell short of a clear majority in the Assembly elections held on May 4. The party won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, emerging as the single largest force and breaking the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu politics.

The TVK later secured outside support from the Congress, the Left parties, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), helping Vijay cross the majority mark.

Although the TVK technically had 105 voting members due to the Speaker’s post, Vijay resigning one of the two seats he had won, and a disputed election result in Tiruppattur, all 105 MLAs voted in his favour during the trust motion.

The supporting alliance partners together contributed 13 votes, while an additional vote came from the lone MLA of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam led by T. T. V. Dhinakaran, taking the coalition’s tally to 119.

The decisive boost reportedly came from a section of AIADMK legislators, exposing internal divisions within the party. While 17 AIADMK MLAs loyal to party leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami voted against Vijay, four MLAs from the Pattali Makkal Katchi, an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the BJP’s lone MLA remained neutral.

The trust vote has formally established Vijay’s government, but political observers say the growing split within the AIADMK may emerge as the next major development in Tamil Nadu politics.