Hung verdict in TN: Vijay claims right to form govt
After Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won a hung mandate in Tamil Nadu, CM M. K. Stalin resigned, while Vijay staked claim to form government despite lacking majority support
Chennai: A day after TVK’s electoral success unseated the DMK from power, M K Stalin on Tuesday resigned as Chief Minister, asserting that his party will function effectively in the opposition, even as TVK chief Vijay expressed confidence of forming a government despite being short on numbers.
The swearing-in of the TVK cabinet is likely on May 7. Vijay’s remarks assume significance in the wake of TVK being 10 short of the simple majority to form a government, as it has only 108 members in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Meanwhile, the TVK has made arrangements for its legislators from the districts to stay in a resort in nearby Mamallapuram to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Vijay planned on May 7, a source in the party said.
May 7 was also the day when Stalin assumed charge as Chief Minister in 2021. Tuesday turned into a hectic day for Vijay, founder of the fledgling TVK, as he made an appearance at the party headquarters, exchanged greetings with the MLA designates and assured of government formation, a source said.
His assurance comes in the wake of a hung assembly like situation and an assertion by DMK’s ally Thol Thirumavalavan heading the VCK that the 2026 Assembly election result paved the way for a coalition government in the state.
A source in the Congress, a major constituent of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, said Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has sent feelers seeking the grand old party’s support in government formation.
On a day of rapid development, Vijay staked claim to form the government informing Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, that the party had secured 108 seats, and being the single largest, it should be invited to form the government. “We request an opportunity to demonstrate our majority,” Vijay had said in an e-mail communication to the governor, a source in the TVK said.
“The decision on extending support to TVK will be made by the Congress high command,” a Congress senior leader said and indicated that many in the TNCC unit wanted a berth for the party MLAs. The Congress has won five seats in the April 23 election held for all the 234 Assembly constituencies in the state. Vijay-led TVK secured an impressive 108 seats on its maiden electoral debut and trounced the incumbent DMK led by Stalin which finished with only 59 seats.
The opposition AIADMK won 47 seats while its allies the PMK obtained four and the BJP and AMMK clinched one seat each in the election, according to the data available on the Election commission of India’s website. The DMK’s other allies– the IUML, CPI, CPI (M), and VCK won two seats each and DMDK secured one. The votes were taken up for counting on May 4 and the final tally was announced on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Stalin stepped down after his DMK faced defeat in the April 23 Assembly elections. The governor accepted his resignation and his council of ministers, the Lok Bhavan said on Tuesday.
He requested the CM to continue in office till alternative arrangements are in place.
Stalin has said that the DMK would function as a robust opposition party.
Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam created a record of sorts in the electoral history of Tamil Nadu and emerged as the single largest party by delivering a shock defeat to DMK and its president Stalin in his Kolathur constituency, while the AIADMK was pushed to a distant third spot.
Vijay won from both Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies and is likely to retain Perambur and vacate Tiruchirappalli East. The TVK has clocked 34.92 per cent vote share in its debut polls.
This will be the first time in Tamil Nadu that a party will assume power a little over two years after its founding in February 2024. At the party MLAs meeting, Vijay was said to have advised the legislators to remain confident as the TVK would form the government, a party insider said.
Confirming that Vijay had mentioned about a “good news soon to follow,” TVK legislator from R K Nagar N Marie Wilson insisted that the meeting of MLAs was basically to greet their party founder and thank him for the victory.
Asked if the size of the cabinet to be formed and how the party would meet the shortfall of 10 MLAs to form the government, Wilson told reporters that “it will all be decided by the party leadership.” A source in the party said the MLAs unanimously elected Vijay as TVK legislature party leader.
Later, Vijay left for his Neelankarai residence amidst tight police security.
Menawhile, talking to reporters here, VCK founder Thirumavalavan said “I can say that through the verdict, the people of Tamil Nadu have given a mandate for a coalition government in future. This is a fact which we should realise. There’s no absolute majority for TVK to form the government on its own. It needs support from other parties.” His party was still with the DMK-led SPA and for secularism he said and added “so we will continue (the ties) with the DMK for the welfare of the TN people.” Asked if he was open to invitation from TVK, Thirumavalavan replied “we have no such idea. We are not expecting any invitation. We thank the people for giving the verdict against the communal forces.”
CPI (M) sate secretary P Shanmugam told reporters that it was for the TVK to respond if it could prove its majority. DMDK general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, another ally of the DMK, said she would continue the poll ties with the DMK and extended her wishes to Vijay on government formation.
Meanwhile, Stalin visited the Kolathur assembly constituency which he lost to V S Babu of TVK by a margin of 8,795 votes and thanked the people who voted for the DMK and its allies. Later, the DMK MLAs and allies called on Stalin and discussed the present political scenario.
Babu defeated Stalin by securing 82,997 votes while the DMK chief polled 74,202. Meanwhile, the TVK thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for lauding the party for its impressive performance in Assembly polls.
“The well-being of our people remains our only goal. Transcending politics, we shall focus on the state’s progress and the welfare of people of Tamil Nadu. We look forward to the Union Government’s support in this endeavor,” TVK said on ‘X.’
