By Shakir Husain
HYDERABAD, May 13 (Bernama) -- Tamil Nadu's new government won a vote of confidence in assembly comfortably on Wednesday despite Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's party not enjoying the required majority on its own.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, formed on May 10, received support of smaller parties as well as of a rebel faction of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) during the trust vote.
It was backed by 144 legislators, whereas 22 voted against it in the 234-member house.
Lawmakers of the former ruling party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which won 59 seats in the election and is led in the assembly by former deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, walked out before the vote.
The TVK won 108 seats in April's assembly election, falling short of the 118 needed for a majority of its own.
It formed the government after the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) offered support.
The Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam, led by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, on Tuesday expelled its lone assembly member S. Kamaraj after he backed Vijay government.
-- BERNAMA
