Kamal Ghorui
CHENNAI: Falling at least 10 seats short of the simple majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly to form govt, TVK president C Joseph Vijay has reached out to multiple parties, including allies of both DMK and AIADMK. Congress has sent positive signals to TVK, which on Tuesday staked claim to form the govt, reports Julie Mariappan. TVK’s tally of 108 seats will drop to 107 after Vijay resigns the Trichy East seat on Wednesday. Then, in the 233- member assembly, he needs the support of 117 MLAs. Sources said TVK intermediaries have reached out to VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, besides Congress, which has five seats. VCK has two seats and PMK four. “TNCC will take a final decision on Vijay’s request,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in Delhi. On Tuesday night, a majority of former PCC presidents, MLAs and MPs said Congress should back TVK provided Vijay didn’t include ‘communal forces of NDA’ in the pact.
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Vijay wrote to Tamil Nadu governor RV Arlekar on Tuesday asking to be invited as the single largest party to form govt and to hold the swearing-in Thursday. Party sources said intermediaries have reached out to VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss. The two parties have six seats. VCK, however, appeared wary. “Why should one leave one alliance for another? BJP won’t allow a Congress-backed govt,” a VCK politician said. TVK, with 108 members, is 10 short of a simple majority. Its tally will drop to 107 after Vijay resigns the Trichy East seat on Wednesday. Congress has five MLAs. The Left parties, which have two seats each, have not received any invitation. “Let us see after TVK’s decision. They have to take a stand,” CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said. Earlier, CPI, CPM, VCK, MDMK and IUML politicians met Stalin at DMK HQ where, DMK sources said, the allies reaffirmed their support. The AIADMK camp is also abuzz. After meeting AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, firsttime MLA Leema Rose Martin told reporters that talks between TVK and AIADMK were underway. “I think it will end positively. It is going on smoothly,” she said. However, senior AIADMK politician and former minister OS Manian ruled out support to TVK.
