Chennai, May 13 (IANS) The trust vote proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday witnessed high political drama after the DMK staged a walkout led by Leader of Opposition, Udhayanidhi Stalin, who launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and questioned the legitimacy of the TVK-led government’s majority.

Speaking during the confidence motion debate, Udhayanidhi Stalin alleged that the ruling alliance did not possess the required strength of 118 members in the 234-member Assembly to prove majority on its own.

“You do not have the 118 seats required for a majority. Due to lack of confidence in winning, the Chief Minister contested from two constituencies and later resigned from one. He has not even thanked the people yet,” Udhayanidhi Stalin said on the floor of the House.

The DMK leader further pointed out that the Madras High Court had restrained the Tirupattur MLA from participating in the trust vote proceedings, thereby reducing the effective strength of the ruling side.

“Because of the court order, the ruling party effectively has only 106 members. This government survives only because of the support extended by parties that contested and won as part of our alliance,” he alleged.

Udhayanidhi Stalin also took a swipe at the functioning style of the new government and accused it of prioritising image-building over governance.

“Instead of governance through Instagram reels, do some real governance,” he remarked, drawing sharp reactions from treasury benches.

The DMK leader also criticised Chief Minister Vijay for reportedly meeting AIADMK rebel leaders ahead of the trust vote and questioned whether the developments represented “change or exchange politics”.

“People are asking whether this is the clean governance that was promised,” he said before announcing that DMK legislators would walk out of the Assembly during the trust vote.

Meanwhile, the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination by the National Testing Agency also figured prominently in the debate.

Manithaneya Makkal Katchi legislator, M.H. Jawahirullah, urged the new government to continue Tamil Nadu’s opposition to NEET and reject the PM SHRI education scheme.

He also called upon the TVK government to continue key welfare initiatives introduced by the previous DMK regime, including the Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme, Vidiyal Payanam free bus travel programme, and various education reforms aimed at promoting scientific temper and social harmony in the state.

—IANS

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