CHENNAI: Having secured 107 seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly election, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) requires the support of 11 more MLAs to form the government. While a coalition government appears inevitable, the path to cobbling together a majority remains a complex puzzle of possibilities and challenges.
TVK's Strategy and Key Developments
TVK's newly elected MLAs are scheduled to convene in Chennai on Tuesday to elect party president C Joseph Vijay as the leader of the legislature party. Meanwhile, a congratulatory call from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to Vijay sparked speculation that the Congress party might switch alliances. TVK sources indicated that the party is exploring multiple options, including seeking support from allies of both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Congress and DMK Allies' Stance
Rahul Gandhi described TVK's victory as a “spectacular result” reflecting the rising voice of youth “which cannot and will not be ignored.” DMK sources revealed that Rahul also spoke to Chief Minister M K Stalin, assuring him of support. Within the Congress camp, AICC member Girish Chodankar, a proponent of power-sharing, has submitted a note to the party high command regarding the emerging situation in Tamil Nadu.
The Congress party won five seats in the election, while other DMK allies—Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)—secured two seats each. Congress leaders in Delhi told Times of India that if TVK offers a power-sharing arrangement, the party may consider it.
CPI and CPM leaders stated they had not received any overtures from TVK, adding that any decision would be made by their respective state committees if approached. VCK, the third recognized party in the DMK alliance led by Thol Thirumavalavan, is monitoring the situation cautiously.
AIADMK and BJP Calculations
The AIADMK is also evaluating its options. Leaders close to Edappadi K Palaniswami suggested that Vijay would struggle to maintain a stable government with support only from DMK allies and would need a more secure arrangement that could function “without fear of BJP pressure.” One leader remarked, “BJP concurrence is a must for any AIADMK tie-up with the actor.”
Within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won just one seat this time (down from four in the previous election), there is speculation that the party could back Vijay by engineering a split in the AIADMK.
Reactions and Calls for Unity
Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the state had again rejected the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), emphasizing that it was the duty of secular forces to prevent any manipulation of the verdict. “Secular forces must come together to protect Tamil Nadu from RSS proxies and from hate politics. Hope all egos are left behind to protect Tamil Nadu,” he posted on social media.
As the political drama unfolds, all eyes are on TVK's next moves to secure a stable government in Tamil Nadu.
