Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay is set to take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, 10 May, alongside nine ministers, marking the beginning of a new political chapter in the southern state. However, the newly formed government must clear two critical constitutional hurdles in the Assembly — the election of a Speaker and a trust vote — before it can formally begin functioning.

Governor's Directive and Timeline

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has directed the Vijay-led government to prove its majority on or before 13 May. The floor test is expected to be a closely watched exercise, given that the ruling alliance holds only a narrow majority in the Assembly. The presence of every alliance MLA will be crucial when the confidence motion comes to a vote.

Speaker Election: The First Hurdle

Before the trust vote, the Assembly must elect a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker. The ruling alliance is expected to nominate its candidate for the Speaker's post, while the opposition may field a rival nominee — potentially setting the stage for a contested floor vote. If a contest does take place, voting will be conducted and the winning candidate declared Speaker. Should a consensus candidate emerge instead, tradition dictates that the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition escort the newly elected Speaker to the Chair together.

How the Trust Vote Will Unfold

Following the Speaker's election, the government will move a confidence motion either on the same day or on 13 May. A member of the ruling side will introduce the motion, after which Chief Minister Vijay is expected to address the Assembly and appeal for support. Leaders of opposition parties are also expected to participate in the debate.

The trust vote could become particularly tense if the opposition demands a division vote — a right the Speaker is constitutionally bound to allow if requested. Under Assembly procedure, bells will be rung three times to summon all MLAs into the House before voting begins. Once the Assembly doors are closed, the Assembly Secretary will conduct division-wise voting across the six divisions of the House, with MLAs supporting and opposing the motion asked to stand separately in each division.

What the Outcome Means

The Chief Minister traditionally sits in the first division, while the Leader of the Opposition occupies a seat in the sixth division directly opposite. The final count will be submitted to the Speaker, who will announce whether the government has won or lost the confidence motion. If passed, the Vijay government will continue in office. If defeated, Governor Arlekar could initiate steps to dissolve the government — a scenario that makes the attendance and loyalty of every alliance legislator critical. With a narrow majority in hand, the coming days will be a defining early test of the new administration's political cohesion.