Tamil Nadu Floor Test Live: Vijay reaches out to Congress, allies ahead of crucial trust vote

The Supreme Court will hear a plea by TVK MLA R Seenivasa Sethupathi on Wednesday, challenging a Madras High Court order barring him from Tamil Nadu’s floor test. Sethupathi, who won Tiruppattur by a single vote, was restrained after allegations of counting irregularities, including a wrongly rejected postal ballot and EVM discrepancies. His exclusion could reduce the Vijay-led TVK alliance’s strength from 120 to 119 MLAs in the 234-seat Assembly, threatening its majority ahead of the trust vote. Around 30 AIADMK MLAs, including SP Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam, defected from party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami and pledged support for Vijay’s government. Shanmugam accused Palaniswami of seeking a DMK-backed government, violating AIADMK’s principles. The party dismissed claims as rumors, while DMK denied post-poll alliance talks. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan claimed both parties approached him for a chief ministerial role, but his party declined. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will meet Congress leaders in Chennai on Wednesday, including TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai and AICC officials, as political maneuvering intensifies. The meeting follows Vijay’s efforts to secure support ahead of the May 13 floor test, where his government’s survival hinges on maintaining a majority. The AIADMK rebellion and Sethupathi’s legal battle add uncertainty to the proceedings. The floor test, scheduled for May 13, will determine whether Vijay’s TVK alliance retains power or faces a confidence vote. With AIADMK’s internal split and legal hurdles, the outcome remains precarious. Opposition parties, including DMK and VCK, are monitoring developments closely, while Vijay’s Congress outreach aims to stabilize his coalition.