Palaniswami Wins Crucial Trust Vote in Tamil Nadu Assembly by Comfortable 122-11 Margin

Chennai: The Palaniswami government on Saturday won the confidence vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by a comfortable 122-11 margin after high drama and bedlam in the House.

The vote was preceded by eviction of principal opposition DMK and walkout by its allies, which have 98 legislators in the 234-member House, in protest.

The vote was taken after two adjournments due to pandemonium and charges of attacks by DMK members.

Speaker P Dhanapal and Leader of Opposition M K Stalin said their shirts were torn in the fracas in the House.

Stalin immediately dashed off to the Raj Bhavan to meet the Governor and complain about the incidents. Tight security was in place outside the Assembly to prevent any untoward incident in the wake of the do or die battle for the pro-Sasikala government.

The Assembly witnessed unruly scenes with the opposition members insisting on a secret vote and wanting MLAs to be allowed to visit their constituencies and meet the people before they cast their vote.

On Friday, MLA from Mylpore constituency here, R Nataraj had said he would vote against the chief minister's motion of confidence.

Ailing DMK supremo M Karunanidhi did not attend the proceedings.

The floor test in the Assembly was the first such exercise in the state in about 30 years.

Panneerselvam had vowed to continue his fight against Sasikala and her family "till the time Amma (Jayalalithaa) regime is restored."

As soon as the House proceedings resumed at 3 pm, the Speaker allowed Panneerselvam, Congress Legislature Party Leader K R Ramasamy and IUML member Abubacker to make some brief remarks before going for the voting, which was taken up as division.

Subsequently, the division was held for four blocks as the rest two remained empty following DMK's eviction.

After voting, the Speaker announced that the Palaniswami Ministry received 122 in support and 11 against, drawing thunderous applause from the ruling benches with some MLAs also haling late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Soon after the Speaker declared the result, Panneerselvam and his supporters left the House.