With support from IUML, VCK, Congress and Left parties, actor Vijay's TVK has crossed the majority mark in the Tamil Nadu assembly. Governor Rajendra Arlekar has invited Vijay, poised to be the next CM, to meet him to form the government.
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 9 (ANI): With TVK having requisite letters of support to cross majority mark in the Tamil Nadu assembly, Governor Rajendra Arlekar has conveyed to actor-turned politician Vijay to meet him today evening, sources said. The sources said the meeting is expected to take place at 6.30 pm.
TVK secures majority with allies' support
In a boost to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's efforts to form a government in Tamil Nadu, IUML on Saturday extended its "unconditional support" taking the total number of MLAs supporting TVK to 13. The strength of TVK legislatures and parties supporting it has gone up to 121. IUML has extended unconditional support to TVK to form a government in the state.
TVK has the support of Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML. While Congress has five MLAs, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML have two MLAs each. The letter to Governor, written by IUML leaders SSB Syed Farooq Basha and AM Shahjahan, conveyed party's "unconditional support" to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by Joseph Vijay for forming government in Tamil Nadu. Vijay is slated to be the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
The letter said the support is being conveyed "in the interest of stable, secular and democratic governance" for the people of Tamil Nadu.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Saturday also received the support of VCK's two MLAs and inched closer to forming a coalition government in Tamil Nadu. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan gave official confirmation letter to Aadhav Arjuna, TVK General Secretary- Election Campaign Management, and extended the party's support to TVK to form a government in the state. VCK's unconditional support has paved the way for formation of TVK-led government in the state.
Path to forming government
TVK chief Vijay is expected to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar with all letters of support he has received. TVK, which won 108 seats in its spectacular debut in the assembly polls, earlier had the support of Congress, CPI, CPI(M) and VCK, taking total tally to 119. The majority mark in 234 member-House is 118.
TVK chief Vijay has won from two seats and will resign from one seat, taking the effective strength of the party to 107 and of assembly to 233. VCK chief Thirumavalavan wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu Governor stating that the party has extended support to the TVK. "This support is extended pursuant to the results of the General Assembly Elections held for the State of Tamil Nadu on 23rd April 2026, and is being conveyed in the interest of stable and democratic governance for the people of Tamil Nadu. I request Your Excellency to take on record my unconditional support," the letter said.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore said TVK has reached the majority mark with help of supporting parties. "118 reached," he said. TVK emerged as the single largest party in the assembly elections with 108 seats but remained short of the majority mark.
Vijay has met Tamil Nadu Governor but had not been invited to form government as he did not have "official numbers" for majority support. After he takes oath, Vijay will become the first leader outside the DMK and AIADMK formations to head a government in Tamil Nadu since 1967. (ANI)
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