NEW DELHI: Actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has initiated efforts to form the government in Tamil Nadu after emerging as the single-largest party in the assembly elections. However, the party fell short of the majority mark by 10 seats, securing 108 seats in the 234-member assembly.
TVK Seeks Support from Smaller Parties
According to reports, TVK is actively seeking backing from smaller parties, including the Congress, PMK, Left parties, CPM, and VCK. Together, these parties could help TVK cross the required majority of 118 seats. TVK chief Vijay has also requested a meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar as part of the government formation process.
Congress Likely to Support TVK
News agency PTI, citing sources, reported that the Tamil Nadu Congress has decided to support the formation of a secular government in the state. The decision to back TVK was taken at an urgent meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Tamil Nadu Congress late on Tuesday night. AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu affairs, Girish Chodankar, convened the meeting to discuss extending support to TVK. Sources indicated that the meeting was held via Zoom, and senior members expressed their views in favor of supporting the actor-turned-politician. "The PAC of the Tamil Nadu Congress unanimously decided to support TVK leader Thiru Vijay to form a secular government in Tamil Nadu," sources said.
Earlier in the day, the Congress claimed that Vijay had sought its support for government formation. The party leadership directed the state unit to make a final decision, keeping in view the sentiments of the state. The Congress, which contested the election in alliance with the DMK, asserted that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government and emphasized its determination "not to have the BJP and its proxies run the government of Tamil Nadu in any manner."
DMK Criticizes Congress as 'Backstabber'
Tensions within the Secular Progressive Alliance escalated as the DMK called the Congress a "backstabber" amid speculation of the grand old party supporting TVK. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai launched a scathing attack on the Congress, labeling its decision as "myopic" and accusing it of having "backstabbed" INDIA bloc partners. "I think this is a very short-sighted, myopic stand taken by the Congress, which they will regret. The 2029 big elections are coming, where we were very confident that we would be able to remove the BJP. But now, because of this decision by the Congress, it has made them a very unstable partner. The perception that is out in the entire country is that Congress cannot be trusted," he said.
Dissent Within AIADMK
Meanwhile, dissent appears to be brewing within the AIADMK, with a faction pressing the leadership to support Vijay in forming the government. Reports suggest that some AIADMK MLAs are inclined to back Vijay and his party, and there is dissatisfaction with Edappadi Palaniswami's leadership. TVK, which is just 10 seats short of the majority mark, is more likely to ally with smaller parties like the Congress and the Left front.
TVK MLAs Housed at Luxury Resort
In a strategic move, the 108 victorious TVK MLAs, including those from distant regions, have been lodged at a private luxury resort in Mamallapuram. The arrangement was made after a meeting with party leader Vijay. To ensure security, a heavy police presence has been deployed around the resort, with increased surveillance. Over 50 MLAs are currently staying at the Four Points Star hotel in Poonjeri, Mamallapuram, and more TVK MLAs are expected to arrive throughout the day. The party continues to strategize on post-election developments.
Regardless of how government formation unfolds, the coming days will be decisive. Whether it is a TVK-Congress understanding, a broader coalition of smaller parties, or some combination of both, the era of TVK has arrived, but the shape of its government remains to be seen.
