Chennai: Today marked one of the most turbulent days in the political history of Tamil Nadu. As the TVK government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, sought a vote of confidence in the Assembly, the main opposition party, AIADMK, officially split. Defying the party high command’s decision, 30 MLAs have declared their support for the Vijay government.

MLAs Defy Palaniswami’s Warning

As soon as the session commenced, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) issued a stern directive: "Our party will not support the TVK government under any circumstances. All our MLAs must vote against the government." However, his statement triggered immediate outrage within the house. A group of MLAs led by senior AIADMK leader S.P. Velumani raised slogans against Palaniswami. At this juncture, Speaker J.C.D. Prabhakar intervened and permitted Velumani to address the house.

Velumani’s Fiery Speech; Attack on Palaniswami

Speaking as per the Speaker's instruction, Velumani launched a scathing attack on Palaniswami. "We have been playing politics against the DMK for the last 30 years. The people of Tamil Nadu have sought change and given an opportunity to Vijay this time. We must respect the verdict of the people," he stated. He further declared, "We are not supporting Vijay for any power or ministerial position. We, 30 MLAs, are standing by Vijay with the aim of state development and keeping the DMK out of power."

Strength in the House; Smooth Path to Victory for Vijay

While Velumani’s announcement was met with a pin-drop silence in the AIADMK camp, TVK MLAs welcomed the decision by thumping their desks.

Number of Rebel MLAs: 30

Status of CM Vijay: With the support of these 30 MLAs, Vijay has easily crossed the magic number of 118, making his victory in the trust vote almost certain. This development has caused a major rift within the AIADMK and signaled the beginning of a new era in Tamil Nadu politics.