Chief Minister C. Joseph VIjay comfortably won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (May 13, 2026) with the support of the CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML, from the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) led by the DMK, as well as that of 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs and the lone AMMK MLA.

After the DMK legislators and the lone DMDK MLA, Premallatha Vijayakant, walked out, the confidence motion moved by Mr. Vijay was put to vote by Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, despite AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s opposition to allowing rebel AIADMK leader – and his confidant until a few days ago – S.P. Velumani from speaking on the party’s behalf.

Tamil Nadu Assembly session LIVE- May 13, 2026

Mr. Velumani’s camp pledged support to Mr. Vijay. In the end, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) secured 144 votes, with 22 MLAs from Mr. Palaniswami’s camp opposing it. Four PMK MLAs and the lone BJP MLA voted ‘Neutral’.

Vijay thanks voters, MLAs

Thanking everyone in the Assembly, Mr. Vijay said the people had reposed faith in the TVK government, just as they did in 1967 and 1977 to usher in “governments of the common people.” The “whistle revolution” had secured over 34% of votes to elect the TVK as the single-largest party in less than three years of its formation.

“If anyone thinks that this is a minority government, we are happy. This is a minority government, which will fight to protect the minorities,” he said, adding that his government was for everyone. The Chief Minister further promised a democratic, secular regime rooted in social justice.

Reiterating that this was “the common people’s rule,” Mr. Vijay said the government was for the good of everyone and the public would realise this as time goes by. “This is not a government to show power or authority, it is to deliver good for the people. Public welfare is the sole motto of this government,” he said.

Ahead of Wednesday’s (May 13, 2026) floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) called on rebel AIADMK leaders led by former Ministers S.P. Velumani and C.Ve. Shanmugam hours after they announced support to his ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Earlier, in the Assembly, newly elected Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar, allowed Mr. Velumani also to speak immediately after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami delivered a short speech congratulating the Speaker on his election.

Tamil Nadu politics LIVE: Follow updates, highlights on May 12, 2026

In the morning, the rebels declared Mr. Velumani as the “AIADMK Legislature Party leader”. Mr. Palaniswami’s supporters, however, said he was the leader of the Legislature Party. The AIADMK led by Mr. Palaniswami would vote against the confidence motion to be moved by the TVK government, senior leader O.S. Manian said.

In an interview with The Hindu, the Speaker acknowledged that he got separate representations from both sides (on the election of Legislature Party leader).

Mr. Vijay, who continued his outreach to various political party leaders for the second consecutive day, went to Mr. Shanmugam’s house in Chennai in the afternoon.

Earlier, Mr. Shanmugam accused Mr. Palaniswami of having attempted to form a government with arch rival DMK’s support following the fractured mandate in the Assembly election. “This was a shock to us,” he told journalists. Since the AIADMK was established to oppose the DMK, and its politics revolved around this for 53 years, any move to collaborate with its rival would lead to “the party’s disappearance,” he said. Therefore, it was resolved to extend support to the TVK.

Mr. Shanmugam and Mr. Velumani said the reasons for the party’s back-to-back electoral setbacks must be analysed. “We have requested the general secretary to convene a meeting of the general council as early as possible,” Mr. Shanmugam said adding, “we are no longer in any pre-poll alliance”.

Mr. Velumani requested the media not to spread rumours that his group was seeking to create a split in the party. “Elders of many of us were with the party since the launch of the organisation,” he pointed out.

The group said G. Hari (Tiruttani MLA) was elected the deputy leader; C. Vijayabhaskar (former Minister), the whip; and Kamaraj, the secretary.

However, AIADMK senior leader O.S. Manian, a supporter of Mr. Palaniswami, accused Mr. Shanmugam of spreading false information and attempting to lure MLAs. While he claimed that all 47 AIADMK legislators had signed a letter electing Mr. Palaniswami as the Legislature Party leader, presently, 26 members were on his side. “The signatures of all members supporting Mr. Palaniswami proves the AIADMK remains united. The desire to become Ministers or hold powerful positions is what is driving such statements (from rebels). While the media says they [rebels] have 30 MLAs and we have 17, we actually have 26 members with us,” Mr. Manian told journalists at the Secretariat.

Pointing out under Mr. Palaniswami’s leadership various challenges were overcome and the ‘Two Leaves’ symbol reclaimed (it was frozen following a split after Jayalalithaa’s death), he said in the election, the NDA secured nearly 1.34 crore votes.

Mr. Manian dismissed as “entirely baseless” Mr. Shanmugam’s claim of alliance talks with the DMK. The rebels were driven by a desire to become Ministers, he alleged.

Agri S.S. Krishnamurthy, who was appointed whip by Mr. Palaniswami, said, “As per the directions of the general secretary, we will vote against the Motion of Confidence. All members have been informed. Legal action will be initiated against anyone who cross-votes.”