C. Joseph Vijay’s bid to form the next Tamil Nadu government appears to have cleared a crucial hurdle after five days of shifting alliances, legal petitions and resort politics, with the TVK-led bloc now claiming enough support to cross the 118-seat majority in the 234-member Assembly. TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, but because Vijay won two constituencies and will vacate one, the party’s effective strength stood at 107; with backing from Congress, the Left (CPI and CPI(M)), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the alliance totals 121 on paper and an effective 120 once Vijay vacates a seat. If Vijay is sworn in, he would be the first chief minister from outside the DMK–AIADMK ecosystem since 1967, marking a potential historic shift in Tamil Nadu politics.
The arithmetic changed after Congress broke ranks with the DMK-led grouping to support TVK, attaching political conditions. Congress leaders said their backing depended on keeping “communal forces” outside the alliance, a reference widely read as directed at the BJP-led NDA, and Tamil Nadu Congress chief K. Selvaperunthagai disclosed that TVK had offered Congress two cabinet berths and one Rajya Sabha seat as part of the arrangement. Even with Congress on board, TVK still required additional support from smaller parties and independents to reach a stable majority.
The Left parties announced outside support while refusing cabinet posts. CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian said the move aimed to ensure “stable, secular and democratic governance” and to stave off the possibility of President’s Rule. CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam framed the Left’s intervention as an effort to prevent a “backdoor entry” of the BJP into state politics through post-poll instability.
The VCK’s delayed confirmation had been the most suspenseful element. After holding out for assurances and representation, VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan said, “At present, we are focused on only one thing. We should not allow a situation to arise where we are unable to form a Vijay government. We should not allow President’s rule to come into effect in Tamil Nadu. On this basis, standing outside and extending our support is an aid to forming a government.” The IUML then formally extended unconditional support, adding two legislators and submitting a letter similar to those from the Left.
The process was clouded by controversy when TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK was briefly reported to have backed TVK; Dhinakaran rejected the claim and filed a police complaint alleging a “photocopied, forged document” had been submitted to the Governor’s office. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar had sought physical signatures from MLAs before inviting any party to form the government, prompting TVK to file a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Governor’s stance and a second petition arguing that insisting on “subjective satisfaction” rather than allowing a floor test subverts democratic norms.
With DMK at 59 seats and AIADMK at 47, both principal Dravidian parties remain outside the coalition talks; the BJP won five seats. As negotiations intensified, Congress moved its five MLAs to a Hyderabad resort to guard against poaching. TVK insiders said Vijay preferred Sunday, May 10, 2026, for the swearing-in, with options ranging from a low-key Raj Bhavan ceremony to a large public event at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium — Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was expected to attend. The ultimate confirmation of the new government, however, will depend on how quickly a floor test is held in the Assembly.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/tamil-nadu-political-drama-climax-how-vijay-got-numbers-to-form-govt-14009436.html
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Publish Date: 2026-05-09 18:47:00
