Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan here Wednesday and formally staked claim to form the next government.
Vijay presented the letters of support from 112 MLA-elects to the governor, but it’s six short of the majority mark. Meanwhile, there are speculations of alliance talks between the AIADMK and the DMK.
In its electoral debut, the TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, and has received support from Congress that has won five seats.
While preparations for Vijay’s swearing-in as Chief Minister were underway, with the ceremony expected to be held on Thursday at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, a delay is likely due to the lack of clarity over TVK establishing a majority.
Earlier, Vijay sent a letter to the governor, staking claim to form a government. He met the Governor Wednesday evening and formally asserted that the party has the numbers with the Congress backing and requested to be invited to form the government.
The governor dissolved the 16th Tamil Nadu Assembly with effect from 5 May.
Meanwhile, Governor Arlekar told the media Wednesday, “They have stated that they have the majority and should be called to form the government. A new government will be formed now.”
However, the TVK still falls short by six seats after Vijay resigns from one of the two constituencies he won—Perambur and Trichy East. He must resign from one seat within 14 days of being sworn in, reducing TVK’s effective strength to 107 MLAs.
Combined with Congress’s five seats, the alliance stands at 112, still six short of the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member assembly.
Meanwhile, the TVK has also approached AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami for support. AIADMK MLA-elect Leema Rose told the media that the talks are underway with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
The Congress has offered conditional backing, insisting on keeping “communal forces” out and maintaining a secular alliance, emphasising that TVK should seek support from left parties.
While VCK Chief Thol Thirumavalavan stated that the party has received an invitation, they are yet to decide, and the Indian Union Muslim League has ruled out support to TVK.
Meanwhile, AIADMK leaders C.V. Shanmugam, S.P. Velumani, and Vijayabhaskar arrived at the residence of party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday. So far, no official statements have been made by TVK or AIADMK regarding the same.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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