Another Twist In Tamil Nadu Politics As TVK Chief Thalapathy Vijay Fails To Demonstrate Majority

Chennai: Tamil Nadu politics is witnessing twist after twist. On Friday, TVK Chief Vijay met with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and staked his claim to form the government. However, the combined tally of the TVK and its allies currently stands at 116—a figure that falls short of a majority. Consequently, the Governor has not yet granted approval for the formation of the government. Earlier, a CPM leader had claimed that Vijay had been invited to take the oath of office the following day; however, the Governor's office has not issued any confirmation regarding this claim.

Which parties have suppirted Vijay?

Left-wing parties have announced their support for Vijay. While the CPI and CPI(M) officially declared their support for Vijay, there were also indications that the VCK has extended its support to the TVK. Meanwhile, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) stated that it would support the efforts being undertaken toward the formation of the government. Just hours after the Left parties pledged their unconditional support, Vijay arrived at the Governor's office in Guindy to discuss the formation of the government. In the meantime, anticipating Vijay's swearing-in ceremony, TVK supporters began celebrating.

Although the VCK did not immediately issue an official announcement regarding its support for the TVK, party chief Thol Thirumavalavan has repeatedly emphasized that his party's stance would align with that adopted by the Left parties. In the elections held in April, the TVK secured victory in 108 seats—a tally that includes the two seats won by Vijay himself. The TVK emerged as the single largest party. In accordance with Election Commission regulations, Vijay is required to resign from one of the two seats he won. The Congress party has pledged the support of its five legislators to Vijay. To form the government, Vijay requires the support of a total of 118 legislators.

The combined strength of the TVK and its supporting legislators now stands at 116. This calculation takes into account the fact that Vijay will have to resign from one of the two seats he holds—either Perambur in Chennai or Tiruchirappalli East. In this scenario, Vijay now requires the support of two additional legislators to form his first government. In the 234-member House, the CPI, CPI(M), and VCK each hold two seats.

Which Party Refused to Support Vijay?

Meanwhile, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) chief T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Friday denied reports that his party had extended support to the Vijay-led TVK, stating instead that they remain aligned with the NDA. Dismissing media reports, Dhinakaran noted that Kamaraj is currently staying at a resort in Puducherry alongside the newly elected members of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The reports had claimed that the party's sole elected legislator, S. Kamaraj, had pledged his support to the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam. Kamaraj represents the Mannargudi Assembly constituency. In a post on 'X', the General Secretary of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam reiterated that his party stands firm on its stance of remaining within the National Democratic Alliance.