EPS Sacks CV Shanmugam From AIADMK Post For Voting In Vijay's Favour: Tamil Nadu Floor Test Highlights

Vijay pledged that his government would be secular and would complete a full five-year term.

Chief Minister Vijay addressed the House, thanking supporters and criticizing the DMK; he posted on X calling the DMK 'arrogant' and contrasting with past elections.

DMK Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and his MLAs walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly ahead of the floor test; DMK MLA O. Panneerselvam also left as his party MLAs staged a walkout.

The Supreme Court stayed the Madras High Court order restraining TVK MLA R. Sreenivasa Sethupathi from participating in the floor test; Sethupathi had won the Tiruppattur seat by a margin of one vote.

Edappadi Palaniswami sacked CV Shanmugam and others from AIADMK posts for voting in Vijay's favour; posts of MLAs including S.P. Velumani, CV Shanmugam, and C. Vijayabaskar revoked; Natham Viswanathan removed as Deputy General Secretary; C. Ve. Shanmugam removed as Organising Secretary and Villupuram District Secretary.

AIADMK stated they have applied for the disqualification of 24 MLAs who voted in favour of Vijay under the anti-defection law, noting they had voted against a whip issued yesterday directing them to vote against the TVK government.

The floor test was held. Vijay's TVK government won with 144 votes in favour, 22 against, and 5 abstentions. DMK MLAs, totaling 59, walked out; the Speaker cannot vote unless there is a tie; PMK, BJP and a section of AIADMK supported the motion.

On Palaniswami's birthday, AIADMK colleagues refrained from proposing him as leader, signaling a split and aligning with the TVK camp.

About 30 AIADMK MLAs, led by SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam, refused to propose Palaniswami as leader and announced support for the TVK government led by Joseph Vijay; Palaniswami was left with a minority of 17 supporters.

Vijay faced criticism for appointing astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty to the Chief Minister; the astrologer had predicted a landslide victory.

On his second day as Chief Minister, Vijay announced the closure of more than 700 TASMAC liquor outlets located within 500 metres of temples, schools, and bus stands.

Vijay conducted a second day of meetings with allies AIADMK and DMK and with NTK founder Seeman on Tuesday.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay held back-to-back meetings with allies AIADMK and DMK and with bitter critic NTK founder Seeman on Monday as part of discussions ahead of the floor test.