Chennai: Tamil Nadu politics witnessed fresh confrontation on Wednesday after DMK chief M. K. Stalin launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government following the successful floor test in the Assembly.
Vijay-led TVK government proved its majority in the 234-member Assembly with the support of 144 MLAs, comfortably crossing the required mark during the trust vote held amid intense political drama in the state.
Soon after the confidence motion, Stalin issued a strongly worded statement accusing the ruling party of abandoning its promise of “clean politics”. The DMK leader alleged that TVK was indulging in political manoeuvring by attempting to exploit internal divisions within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
“People are now asking what kind of politics will continue if this is how the government has started functioning,” Stalin said while indirectly targeting the support extended by some AIADMK legislators to the ruling alliance. He also took a swipe at the Congress for backing the TVK government despite its long-standing alliance with the DMK.
Stalin claimed that the public was closely watching how “return gifts” would be given to AIADMK MLAs who supported the government during the trust vote. He asserted that the DMK would continue to function as a “strong and constructive opposition” in the state.
The political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu has intensified significantly after Vijay’s rise to power, with relations between the DMK, Congress and TVK turning increasingly bitter in the aftermath of the Assembly elections.