Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHi: The race to form the next government in Tamil Nadu intensified on Friday as political parties scrambled for support after the assembly elections delivered a fractured mandate. With no party crossing the halfway mark, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay continued his push to gather allies, even after securing a historic mandate.Vijay, whose party emerged as the single-largest force with 108 seats in the 234-member assembly, met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar amid mounting pressure over government formation. Sources, cited by news agency ANI, said the Governor sought clarity on whether TVK could secure the “magic number” of 118 legislators required to stake claim to power. Despite Congress extending support with five MLAs, TVK still remains short of the majority mark.Also read: Vijay under pressure, DMK-AIADMK scramble to stop TVK from forming govtThe verdict in has turned the government formation process into a tight numbers game. In the 234-member Assembly, a party or alliance requires 118 seats to secure a majority. Vijay’s TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats, but still fell short of the halfway mark. Congress has extended support with its five MLAs, taking the TVK-led bloc to 113, leaving it five seats away from power. DMK, which won 59 seats, remains the second-largest party, while AIADMK’s 47 MLAs have suddenly become crucial in determining the next government. Smaller parties, including PMK with four seats and CPI and VCK with two seats each, are now in a position to play kingmaker as intense negotiations continue behind the scenes.The Governor’s refusal so far to invite Vijay to form the government has sparked sharp political reactions. TVK leaders accused Raj Bhavan of delaying the constitutional process, while several supporters staged protests outside Lok Bhavan in Chennai demanding that Vijay be sworn in as chief minister. Police later removed the protesters from the site.
Even as TVK attempted to shore up support, rival parties sensed an opportunity. AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP M Thambidurai said “many discussions” were underway and expressed confidence that the party could still return to power despite finishing third with 47 seats.Also read: Who will govern Tamil Nadu? TVK MLAs threaten mass resignation“There is a public sentiment that AIADMK has to come to power. That may happen in due course of time with the grace of God,” Thambidurai told reporters.The political uncertainty has made AIADMK legislators crucial to any government formation exercise. Reports suggested that sections within the party were in talks with TVK over a possible power-sharing arrangement. Around 28 AIADMK MLAs linked to senior leader CV Shanmugam were shifted to a private resort in Puducherry, fuelling speculation of internal negotiations.Sources claimed that some AIADMK leaders, including CV Shanmugam and OS Manian, were open to backing TVK in exchange for major portfolios and even the deputy chief minister’s post. However, party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is understood to be opposed to supporting Vijay, exposing divisions within the AIADMK camp.At the same time, TVK intensified outreach efforts towards Left parties and smaller regional outfits. TVK Joint General Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar met leaders of the Communist Party of India in Chennai, seeking support for government formation. Both CPI and VCK, which won two seats each, are expected to hold internal meetings before announcing their stand.The DMK, which secured 59 seats, is also closely watching developments as the possibility of shifting alliances keeps the contest open.Tamil Nadu Congress, meanwhile, warned against attempts to “manipulate” the mandate and backed TVK’s claim as the single-largest party. In a social media post, the party said: “Don’t betray the mandate, don’t manipulate.”
