Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has now crossed the crucial majority mark of 118 in the fractured Tamil Nadu Assembly after securing the support of Congress, VCK, CPI, and CPI(M). This alliance has strengthened Vijay’s claim to form the next government, with all eyes now on whether Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will invite him to take the next step.
TVK had emerged as the single largest party in the recently-concluded Tamil Nadu elections, securing 107 seats out of 234 in the Assembly. Following the election, the opposition parties—Congress, VCK, CPI, and CPI(M)—extended their support, pushing Vijay's alliance to the magic number of 118, needed to form the government. With this new backing, Vijay is expected to stake his claim once again after an earlier rejection by the Governor. TVK had previously sought an appointment with Governor Arlekar, but it was rescheduled to 6 pm. This delay has caused political turmoil, with several protests from TVK cadres and Congress announcing statewide demonstrations against the Governor’s stance.
The political drama surrounding Vijay's efforts to form a government has been further complicated by criticisms of the Governor’s refusal to invite the largest party to form a government. Opposition leaders have argued that the Governor’s actions go against constitutional norms, citing precedents where leaders were invited to form governments without initially proving their majority in the legislature. With political tensions high, the sudden consolidation of support around Vijay is seen as a significant turning point. The Congress, Left, and VCK have all rallied behind Vijay’s leadership, but the Governor’s next move remains crucial in determining if Vijay will be invited to form the next Tamil Nadu government.
Behind the scenes, there have been reports of frantic negotiations, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge personally speaking to VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan to secure their support. Despite some criticisms from VCK leader Sinthanai Selvan about Vijay’s handling of post-poll situations and accusations of resort politics, the larger concern has been preventing what opposition parties see as an attempt to impose "Governor’s Rule" in Tamil Nadu. BJP’s spokesperson, however, maintains that the Governor is acting within constitutional boundaries.
As the battle for power in Tamil Nadu intensifies, the political standoff shows no signs of ending soon. With TVK now in a stronger position, it remains to be seen whether the Governor will accept the support from Vijay’s alliance and move forward with the formation of the government.
