TVK secured 108 seats in the Assembly elections held on April 23, falling short of the 118-seat majority mark required to form a government independently. However, the party asserted that it has secured the support of key allies, including the Indian National Congress with five seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) with two seats, the Communist Party of India with two seats, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi with two seats, bringing the claimed total to 119 seats.
On May 8, C. Joseph Vijay met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to formally stake his claim to government formation. However, the Governor’s office raised objections, questioning the arithmetic of the alliance and stating the effective count stood at 116 seats. The office also noted the absence of formal supporting letters from certain allied parties, further complicating the legitimacy of the claim.
The political situation intensified as the Indian National Congress moved its elected Members of the Legislative Assembly to Hyderabad, citing fears of possible political poaching. The development added further volatility to the already fragile post-election negotiations.
In a parallel development, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader M. K. Stalin, who reportedly lost his Assembly seat, urged for the swift conduct of the oath-taking ceremony to ensure administrative continuity amid the uncertainty.
On May 9, a leader from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi confirmed continued support for the TVK-led alliance, strengthening Vijay’s bid as the party pushes to end the long-standing dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Tamil Nadu politics.
The unfolding developments highlight a deeply contested political transition in Tamil Nadu, where competing claims, alliance arithmetic, and administrative scrutiny have converged into a high-stakes struggle for power.
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