NEW DELHI: After days of intense political uncertainty and behind-the-scenes negotiations following the hung Assembly verdict in Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has finally secured the numbers required to form the government in the state.
The breakthrough came after the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) formally extended support to actor-politician Vijay’s TVK.
Alliance Crosses Majority Mark
TVK had emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections with 108 seats. However, since Vijay contested from two constituencies, the party’s effective tally came down to 107 after he vacated one seat.
With support from Congress, VCK, CPI, and CPM, the alliance touched the crucial majority mark of 118 seats in the 234-member Assembly.
Final Alliance Tally:
- TVK: 107
- Congress: 5
- VCK: 2
- CPI: 2
- CPM: 2
Congress First to Back TVK
The Indian National Congress was the first major party to break away from the DMK-led bloc and support TVK. Its five MLAs pushed the alliance tally to 112, though the coalition still remained short of the required majority.
This triggered intense political discussions, with smaller regional and Left parties emerging as key players in deciding who would form the government.
As uncertainty deepened, parties that had traditionally aligned with the DMK began reassessing their political strategy following TVK’s strong electoral performance.
VCK and Left Parties Extend Support
The VCK, which won two seats, reportedly held a high-level committee meeting before deciding to support Vijay’s party.
Similarly, both CPI and CPM also moved towards supporting TVK after internal consultations and direct outreach from Vijay’s camp.
Earlier, CPM state leader P Shanmugam confirmed that Vijay had formally sought the party’s support. He also argued that constitutional convention favours inviting the single largest party to form the government in a hung Assembly.
A Major Political Shift in Tamil Nadu
TVK’s successful bid to cross the majority mark is being seen as a historic turning point in Tamil Nadu politics.
The development effectively challenges the decades-long dominance of the DMK-AIADMK political landscape and signals the rise of a new political force at the centre of the state’s politics.
