Celebrations erupted outside Vijay’s residence in Chennai as supporters raised slogans in favour of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam after sources indicated that the party had finally crossed the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly. Vijay is expected to meet Governor RV Arlekar at around 6 pm to formally stake claim to form the government.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam stunned the state’s political establishment by winning 108 seats in its electoral debut, ending the 62-year dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam over Tamil Nadu politics. However, despite emerging as the single largest party, the celebrations quickly turned into a political struggle after Governor RV Arlekar refused to invite Vijay to form the government without proof of majority support.
Over two meetings held on Wednesday and Thursday, the Governor maintained that Vijay could not govern with the support of only 113 legislators when the required majority mark in the Assembly stands at 118. The Governor insisted that Vijay submit letters of support from additional elected legislators before any invitation to form the government could be considered.
At that stage, Vijay had the backing of 107 legislators from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, excluding himself, and required support from at least 10 more members to secure a majority.
The breakthrough came after the Congress party broke ranks with its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and agreed to support the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam with five legislators. Sources indicated that the Congress imposed a condition that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam would not enter into an alliance with parties it described as communal, an apparent reference to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is allied with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
The split between the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam triggered a bitter political confrontation, with both parties accusing each other of betrayal during the rapidly evolving power struggle.
Simultaneously, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam intensified negotiations with the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Communist Party of India. These parties had also been allied with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and were engaged in discussions with outgoing Chief Minister MK Stalin over alternative political arrangements.
Among the possibilities under discussion was the prospect of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam aligning with its long-time rival, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in what critics described as an “unholy alliance” aimed solely at preventing Vijay from taking power.
However, by Friday afternoon, political discussions shifted decisively in Vijay’s favour after indications emerged that the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Left parties had decided to support the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Communist Party of India collectively contributed six legislators, exactly the number required for Vijay to secure a working majority.
Sources further stated that each of these supporting parties is expected to receive one cabinet position in the incoming administration, while the Congress is reportedly seeking two ministerial berths in exchange for its support.
The dramatic developments also fuelled widespread speculation over a possible alliance between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Although both parties share roots in the social justice movement founded by EV Ramasamy, they remain historic political adversaries in Tamil Nadu.
Political analysts suggested that both parties were driven by fears of losing long-term political relevance. For the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the situation revived memories of the 1977-1987 period when MG Ramachandran prevented the party from returning to power until after his death. For the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, concerns stemmed from a decade of electoral setbacks, including three consecutive defeats to MK Stalin’s party.
Despite the speculation, the proposed alliance never progressed beyond informal discussions. Senior leaders from both parties reportedly acknowledged that strong ideological resistance within their respective ranks made such a partnership politically impossible.
The developments mark one of the most dramatic political transitions in Tamil Nadu’s recent history, with Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam not only breaking the decades-long dominance of the state’s traditional Dravidian parties but also emerging at the centre of a rapidly shifting coalition landscape that could redefine the future of regional politics.
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