India

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay on Wednesday won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly and followed it up with a combative open letter to the people, accusing the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of trying to undermine his government despite its floor-test victory.Moving the confidence motion for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, Vijay secured the support of 144 MLAs, while 22 voted against, five remained neutral and 60 did not participate.In an open letter released shortly after the vote on X, Vijay called the outcome a clear endorsement of his government and hit out at “arrogant” DMK as they walked out of the assembly claiming Vijay did not have majority.The trust vote comes days after Vijay took oath as CM following a fractured verdict in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election, where TVK emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority on its own. The party later secured outside support from the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League.In his statement, Vijay directly targeted leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and rejected the DMK’s argument that his government lacked majority public support.”The old, stale argument that we did not receive the support of the majority of Tamil Nadu people was once again raised by the opposition leader in his usual style,” Vijay said.Citing election figures, he claimed that TVK had won 34.92% of the vote while contesting alone, compared to DMK’s standalone 24.19%.”These are not numbers we are saying. These are figures released by the Election Commission,” he wrote, adding that TVK had secured over 1.72 crore votes, which he said was around 53 lakh more than the DMK’s tally.Vijay also used the letter to hit back at allegations that his government depended on “borrowed support” from other parties. “It is because we are firmly committed to secular values that Congress, VCK, CPI, CPM and IUML supported our government,” he said.In a pointed political attack, Vijay accused the DMK of hypocrisy over coalition politics and invoked its past ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party.”People have not forgotten how the DMK suddenly supported the BJP alliance during the 1999 confidence vote in Parliament. Nor have they forgotten that later the DMK allied with the same BJP and obtained ministerial positions,” he wrote.The TVK chief also suggested that the opposition had attempted to prevent his party from forming the government after the election, saying, “The DMK did everything possible to ensure that the TVK should not form a government despite being the single largest party with people’s support.”Positioning his government as one rooted in public sentiment rather than social media optics, Vijay said, “We do not rely merely on digital technology. We rely only on the emotions of the people.”He ended the letter with a message of continuity, saying his administration would remain focused on welfare and governance despite political attacks.“We will not pay attention to mudslinging. We will always focus only on people-centric actions, schemes and laws,” Vijay said, adding that his government would remain “firmly committed to secularism and social justice.”The DMK had walked out of assembly during the floor test.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuvendu Adhikari Chooses Bhabanipur Over Nandigram, Sparks Fresh Political Battle In BengalCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?123Photostories’Karuppu’ releasing on May 14: Five reasons to watch Suriya’s rural mass film in theatersHow to make Rajma and Broccoli Tikki for summer evening snacking5 tiny and adorable dog breeds that shed lessHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset saree123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav

Vamsikrishna1 hour ago03 mins mins

$NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay on Wednesday won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly and followed it up with a combative open letter to the people, accusing the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of trying to undermine his government despite its floor-test victory.Moving the confidence motion for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, Vijay secured the support of 144 MLAs, while 22 voted against, five remained neutral and 60 did not participate.In an open letter released shortly after the vote on X, Vijay called the outcome a clear endorsement of his government and hit out at “arrogant” DMK as they walked out of the assembly claiming Vijay did not have majority.The trust vote comes days after Vijay took oath as CM following a fractured verdict in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election, where TVK emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority on its own. The party later secured outside support from the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League.In his statement, Vijay directly targeted leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and rejected the DMK’s argument that his government lacked majority public support.”The old, stale argument that we did not receive the support of the majority of Tamil Nadu people was once again raised by the opposition leader in his usual style,” Vijay said.Citing election figures, he claimed that TVK had won 34.92% of the vote while contesting alone, compared to DMK’s standalone 24.19%.”These are not numbers we are saying. These are figures released by the Election Commission,” he wrote, adding that TVK had secured over 1.72 crore votes, which he said was around 53 lakh more than the DMK’s tally.Vijay also used the letter to hit back at allegations that his government depended on “borrowed support” from other parties. “It is because we are firmly committed to secular values that Congress, VCK, CPI, CPM and IUML supported our government,” he said.In a pointed political attack, Vijay accused the DMK of hypocrisy over coalition politics and invoked its past ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party.”People have not forgotten how the DMK suddenly supported the BJP alliance during the 1999 confidence vote in Parliament. Nor have they forgotten that later the DMK allied with the same BJP and obtained ministerial positions,” he wrote.The TVK chief also suggested that the opposition had attempted to prevent his party from forming the government after the election, saying, “The DMK did everything possible to ensure that the TVK should not form a government despite being the single largest party with people’s support.”Positioning his government as one rooted in public sentiment rather than social media optics, Vijay said, “We do not rely merely on digital technology. We rely only on the emotions of the people.”He ended the letter with a message of continuity, saying his administration would remain focused on welfare and governance despite political attacks.“We will not pay attention to mudslinging. We will always focus only on people-centric actions, schemes and laws,” Vijay said, adding that his government would remain “firmly committed to secularism and social justice.”The DMK had walked out of assembly during the floor test.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuvendu Adhikari Chooses Bhabanipur Over Nandigram, Sparks Fresh Political Battle In BengalCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?123Photostories’Karuppu’ releasing on May 14: Five reasons to watch Suriya’s rural mass film in theatersHow to make Rajma and Broccoli Tikki for summer evening snacking5 tiny and adorable dog breeds that shed lessHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset saree123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav$

'Don't you understand the extent of our victory?' Vijay lambasts DMK after floor test win

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay on Wednesday won the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu assembly and followed it up with a combative open letter to the people, accusing the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) of trying to undermine his government despite its floor-test victory.Moving the confidence motion for his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, Vijay secured the support of 144 MLAs, while 22 voted against, five remained neutral and 60 did not participate.In an open letter released shortly after the vote on X, Vijay called the outcome a clear endorsement of his government and hit out at “arrogant” DMK as they walked out of the assembly claiming Vijay did not have majority.The trust vote comes days after Vijay took oath as CM following a fractured verdict in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election, where TVK emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority on its own. The party later secured outside support from the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League.In his statement, Vijay directly targeted leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and rejected the DMK’s argument that his government lacked majority public support.“The old, stale argument that we did not receive the support of the majority of Tamil Nadu people was once again raised by the opposition leader in his usual style,” Vijay said.Citing election figures, he claimed that TVK had won 34.92% of the vote while contesting alone, compared to DMK’s standalone 24.19%.“These are not numbers we are saying. These are figures released by the Election Commission,” he wrote, adding that TVK had secured over 1.72 crore votes, which he said was around 53 lakh more than the DMK’s tally.Vijay also used the letter to hit back at allegations that his government depended on “borrowed support” from other parties. “It is because we are firmly committed to secular values that Congress, VCK, CPI, CPM and IUML supported our government,” he said.In a pointed political attack, Vijay accused the DMK of hypocrisy over coalition politics and invoked its past ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party.“People have not forgotten how the DMK suddenly supported the BJP alliance during the 1999 confidence vote in Parliament. Nor have they forgotten that later the DMK allied with the same BJP and obtained ministerial positions,” he wrote.The TVK chief also suggested that the opposition had attempted to prevent his party from forming the government after the election, saying, “The DMK did everything possible to ensure that the TVK should not form a government despite being the single largest party with people’s support.”Positioning his government as one rooted in public sentiment rather than social media optics, Vijay said, “We do not rely merely on digital technology. We rely only on the emotions of the people.”He ended the letter with a message of continuity, saying his administration would remain focused on welfare and governance despite political attacks.“We will not pay attention to mudslinging. We will always focus only on people-centric actions, schemes and laws,” Vijay said, adding that his government would remain “firmly committed to secularism and social justice.”The DMK had walked out of assembly during the floor test.