In finale to high-stakes TN drama, Vijay gets majority, to take oath as CM today

TVK, which won 108 seats, has an effective strength of 107 as Vijay won two seats. With Congress’s five MLAs, CPI’s two, CPI(M)’s two, VCK’s two and IUML’s two, the TVK-led bloc eventually managed the support of 120 MLAs-elect — two above the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Assembly.

The breakthrough came after VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan and IUML national president K M Kader Mohideen issued letters extending unconditional support to TVK by evening. Their letters followed similar ones sent by the Left parties on Friday evening.

Thirumavalavan said the VCK had decided to support TVK to ensure it did not become an obstacle to Vijay forming the government and to prevent President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu. He added that the VCK would continue to remain part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and that the decision would not affect its relationship with the DMK.

The IUML’s support came after a day of mixed signals. Earlier, Mohideen had said the party remained firmly within the DMK alliance and had not issued any support letter to TVK. Later, IUML leaders met outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin before extending support to TVK. Leaders familiar with the talks said the IUML had conveyed that it could not move unless the DMK leadership agreed.

The developments marked a dramatic recovery for Vijay after Friday night’s confusion. On Friday evening, TVK appeared set for power after the CPI and CPI(M) extended support. But by night, the numbers became uncertain after VCK did not immediately submit its letter and an AMMK support claim collapsed into controversy.

But by Saturday afternoon, the direction began to change. AIADMK’s Edappadi K Palaniswami or EPS issued a statement congratulating the party that would form the government, a move seen as an attempt to cool speculation about an AIADMK-led alternative.

Meanwhile, Stalin said the DMK would be a constructive Opposition and welcomed the stand of allies who backed TVK to avoid a crisis, while saying they would continue in the DMK-led alliance on policy grounds. He also took note of Congress moving away from the alliance after the results.

The Governor’s role has also come under legal scrutiny. Two petitions have reached the Supreme Court challenging his earlier refusal to invite Vijay, leader of the single largest party, to form the government and prove majority on the floor of the House. Petitioners argued that the majority must be tested in the Assembly, not through Raj Bhavan’s private assessment.

As the evening progressed, security remained tight outside the Mahabalipuram resort where TVK MLAs were staying. Congress MLAs had been shifted to Hyderabad. AIADMK MLAs returned from the Puducherry resort and met EPS in Chennai.

By 6.20 pm, the political traffic moved again – toward Raj Bhavan. After a day in which Vijay left, returned, waited and started again, Tamil Nadu’s government formation drama had finally culminated.

According to TVK leaders, the cabinet could see Vijay keeping the Public Administration, Police and Home Department portfolio. Public Works Department could go to K A Sengottaiyan, Municipal Administration Department to N Anand, Electricity Department to C T R Nirmalkumar, Sports and Prohibition Department to Aadhav Arjuna, Adi Dravidar Welfare Department to A Rajmohan, Registration and Commercial Taxes Department to K G Arunraj, and School Education Department to P Venkataramanan.

Arun Janardhanan is an experienced and authoritative Tamil Nadu correspondent for The Indian Express. Based in the state, his reporting combines ground-level access with long-form clarity, offering readers a nuanced understanding of South India’s political, judicial, and cultural life - work that reflects both depth of expertise and sustained authority. Expertise Geographic Focus: As Tamil Nadu Correspondent focused on politics, crime, faith and disputes, Janardhanan has been also reporting extensively on Sri Lanka, producing a decade-long body of work on its elections, governance, and the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings through detailed stories and interviews. Key Coverage Areas: State Politics and Governance: Close reporting on the DMK and AIADMK, the emergence of new political actors such as actor Vijay’s TVK, internal party churn, Centre–State tensions, and the role of the Governor. Legal and Judicial Affairs: Consistent coverage of the Madras High Court, including religion-linked disputes and cases involving state authority and civil liberties. Investigations: Deep-dive series on landmark cases and unresolved questions, including the Tirupati encounter and the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, alongside multiple investigative series from Tamil Nadu. Culture, Society, and Crisis: Reporting on cultural organisations, language debates, and disaster coverage—from cyclones to prolonged monsoon emergencies—anchored in on-the-ground detail. His reporting has been recognised with the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism. Beyond journalism, Janardhanan is also a screenwriter; his Malayalam feature film Aarkkariyam was released in 2021. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd