C Joseph Vijay comfortably won the floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday after securing the support of 144 MLAs during the trust vote.
Vijay’s majority received a major boost after rebel legislators from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) voted in favour of the government despite warnings from party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
Smaller parties including the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League and an expelled AMMK MLA also backed Vijay’s government.
The floor test further exposed internal divisions within the AIADMK after a rebel faction led by senior leaders C V Shanmugam and SP Velumani supported Vijay in the Assembly, triggering uproar inside the House.
Vijay had already crossed the majority mark with support from allies and smaller parties, but the backing from dissident AIADMK MLAs strengthened his position significantly.
Meanwhile, political suspense continues in Kerala, where the Congress is expected to announce its chief ministerial candidate more than a week after the Assembly election results.
Senior Kerala Congress leaders, including former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chiefs and United Democratic Front leaders, met Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday to discuss the leadership issue.
According to sources, seven leaders backed Congress MP KC Venugopal for the post, while K Muralidharan and VM Sudheeran supported VD Satheesan.
Kerala Congress chief Sunny Joseph hinted that an announcement could come soon, saying “white smoke can be expected soon,” drawing a comparison with the Vatican’s papal election process.
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