- India,
- 08-May-2026 09:12 PM IST
The political suspense in Tamil Nadu has concluded with the announcement that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and actor Vijay will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state on Saturday at 11 AM. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar formally invited him to form the government following a crucial meeting at the Lok Bhavan in Chennai on Friday evening. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 9 at the Nehru Stadium. Vijay submitted letters of support from 118 MLAs, successfully crossing the majority mark in the 234-member assembly. This development marks a historic transformation in Tamil Nadu politics, effectively sidelining the traditional Dravidian powerhouses, DMK and AIADMK.
The Coalition Math and Majority Support
In the recently concluded assembly elections, Vijay's party, TVK, secured 107 seats. To achieve the majority required for government formation, the party garnered support from the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India (CPI), and Communist Party of India (Marxist). According to the final tally, the TVK's 107 MLAs are joined by five from the Congress, two from the CPI, two from the CPI(M), and two from the VCK. This collective strength of 118 MLAs cleared the path for the party to establish its first government in the state. The CPI(M) stated that its support is unconditional, aimed at ensuring political stability and upholding the mandate of the people.
Governor's Invitation and Procedural Delays
The meeting on Friday was Vijay's third interaction with the Governor in three days regarding the proof of majority. On Wednesday and Thursday, Governor Arlekar had declined to invite Vijay to form the government, citing a lack of sufficient numbers. This delay had triggered protests and criticism from opposition parties, who accused the central government of attempting to stall the democratic process. However, after the verification of support letters on Friday evening, the Governor issued the formal invitation, while this breakthrough followed intense backchannel negotiations, including discussions between Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, which helped solidify the support in Vijay's favor.
Election Results and Political Realignment
Under Vijay's leadership, TVK made a spectacular debut in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, emerging as the single largest party with 108 seats (including individual victories), though it fell short of a majority on its own. The actor-politician secured victories from both the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies. As per Election Commission regulations, he's expected to vacate one of these seats. The fractured mandate declared on May 4 had initiated intense political parleys across party lines. The Congress's decision to support TVK has drawn sharp reactions from within the DMK, with senior leaders claiming that the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu has effectively collapsed following this post-poll realignment.
Meanwhile, TVK has also held talks with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), another DMK ally that holds two seats in the assembly. However, the IUML has yet to announce whether it will support or join the Vijay-led government. For now, all eyes are on the grand swearing-in ceremony at Nehru Stadium, which is set to usher in a new era in Tamil Nadu's political history. The transition marks the first time in decades that a non-DMK or non-AIADMK entity will lead the state government.
