CHENNAI, MAY 7 (AGENCIES/PTI): Tamil Nadu plunged into intense political uncertainty on Thursday after actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections, but fell short of the majority mark (118) required to form the government.
The political deadlock deepened after Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar reportedly informed Vijay that TVK had not established the requisite majority support in the Assembly to stake claim to power.
Vijay, who visited the Lok Bhavan for the second time within 24 hours following an invitation from the Governor, is understood to have argued that, as leader of the single largest party, he should be invited to form the government and allowed to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
According to sources, the Governor’s decision came after seeking legal opinion from Additional Solicitor General of India ARL Sundaresan.
TVK had earlier submitted letters of support from 113 MLAs, including five Congress legislators who reportedly broke ranks with the DMK-led alliance.
However, the party still remains short of the 118-member majority mark.
The numbers may further reduce as Vijay, who won from both Perambur and Trichy East constituencies, will have to vacate one seat, bringing TVK’s effective tally down from 108 to 107.
Amid the uncertainty, TVK intensified efforts to secure support from the Left parties, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the IUML.
Formal letters seeking support have reportedly been sent to the Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and VCK.
CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam said the party would deliberate on the matter on May 8, while CPI State secretary Veerapandian indicated that a decision was likely on Friday.
VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said his party would decide after consultations with the Left parties.
Both the Congress and VCK criticised the Governor for not inviting Vijay to form the government. Thirumavalavan argued that constitutional convention required the single largest party to be given an opportunity to prove majority on the Assembly floor rather than furnish advance proof of support.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee announced a statewide protest against the Governor and the BJP-led Centre, asserting that governments are decided “on the floor of the House, not on the lawns of Lok Bhavan.”
Meanwhile, TVK cadres staged protests outside the Lok Bhavan demanding that Vijay be invited to form the government.
On the other hand, DMK president and outgoing chief minister M. K. Stalin reportedly urged alliance partners to remain within the Secular Progressive Alliance, even as sources said DMK allies VCK and the Left parties were preparing to meet Stalin to discuss the evolving political situation.
Stalin had earlier publicly stated that Vijay should be allowed to form the government and later remarked that if Vijay assumed office, “we won’t disturb him for six months.”
In another significant development, senior AIADMK leaders SP Velumani and CV Shanmugam are said to favour extending support to TVK while seeking a possible power-sharing arrangement.
CPI leaders also cited constitutional precedents, including the 1996 invitation extended to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, arguing that the Governor should first swear in the leader of the single largest party and allow a floor test later.
