Opposition Parties Rally Behind Vijay as Governor Withholds Invitation to Form Tamil Nadu Government

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam secured 108 seats in its debut Assembly election, becoming the largest party in the 233-member House. However, the party fell short of the majority mark of 118 seats. With support from the Congress, the party currently claims the backing of 113 legislators, leaving it five seats short of the required majority.

According to reports, Governor RV Arlekar asked Vijay to demonstrate majority support before he could be sworn in as Chief Minister. Vijay and supporting political parties argued that constitutional convention requires the single-largest party leader to first take oath and then prove majority on the floor of the Assembly through a confidence vote.

Leading the support campaign for Vijay was actor-politician Kamal Haasan, president of Makkal Needhi Maiam. In a strongly worded message on social media platform X, Haasan said denying Vijay the opportunity to form the government would amount to disrespecting the mandate delivered by the people of Tamil Nadu.

Haasan also praised Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and outgoing Chief Minister MK Stalin for accepting the electoral verdict and declaring that his party would function as a responsible opposition. He stated that constitutional authorities should now demonstrate similar responsibility and uphold democratic principles.

“The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Mr Vijay, has won 108 seats. Not inviting him to form the government would amount to disrespecting the mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu. Two hundred and thirty-three elected members are still unable to take their oaths. This is an insult to the state and damage to democracy,” Haasan wrote.

He further argued that in the absence of any pre-poll alliance securing a majority, the Governor should first invite the single-largest party to form the government. Haasan pointed out that no other alliance or party had formally staked claim to power, while Vijay had already met the Governor and presented support from 113 legislators.

Communist Party of India Tamil Nadu State Secretary M. Veerapandian also backed Vijay’s demand for an opportunity to prove majority on the Assembly floor. In a statement, he said the electorate had not delivered a clear mandate to any single party or alliance but had unquestionably made Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam the largest political force in the Assembly.

Veerapandian stated that insisting on majority proof before the swearing-in ceremony was inappropriate and inconsistent with constitutional practice. He said the Governor must permit the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government to be formed and subsequently face a floor test in the Assembly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, defended the Governor’s position. Party spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy described the election result as a fractured verdict and maintained that Vijay must first establish majority support before any invitation to form the government is extended.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Thirupathy said, “It is a fractured verdict, and we all know that TVK did not have a majority, and they have to prove it. If he proves that he has a majority, the Governor will accept it. Whatever is constitutionally applicable will happen.”

According to sources, Vijay met Governor RV Arlekar at Raj Bhavan on Thursday morning to formally stake claim to form the government. During the meeting, the Governor reportedly questioned how the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam intended to secure the required numbers with only 113 legislators currently backing the alliance.

Party representatives informed the Governor that they expected support from the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India Marxist, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, and Pattali Makkal Katchi. The party also conveyed its readiness to face a confidence vote in the Assembly.

Despite these assurances, the Governor reportedly remained unconvinced about the party’s ability to secure stable majority support.

The standoff has now evolved into a major constitutional and political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu, with multiple opposition parties accusing the Governor of delaying the democratic process despite the clear emergence of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam as the largest party in the Assembly. The controversy is expected to intensify further as political negotiations continue over government formation in the state.