TVK’s Vijay Stakes Claim After Key Meeting With Governor

Actor-turned-politician Vijay has formally staked his claim to form the next government in Tamil Nadu after meeting Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has emerged as the single-largest party in the recent assembly elections, marking a major shift in the state’s political landscape. Despite this strong performance, TVK still falls short of the majority mark of 118 seats and requires at least 10 more seats to secure power. The next critical step for Vijay will be to prove his majority on the floor of the assembly. This means actively seeking alliances and support from other parties and independent candidates. The Indian National Congress has indicated support for TVK, but its limited strength—winning only five seats—means it cannot bridge the gap alone. Other smaller parties are yet to take a clear stand. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which secured two seats, is currently holding internal discussions about whether to back Vijay’s government. Meanwhile, traditional powerhouses Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have suffered setbacks, winning 59 and 47 seats respectively. Other parties like PMK, IUML, CPI, CPI(M), BJP, DMDK, and AMMK secured only a handful of seats each, further fragmenting the political scenario. The Congress leadership has given its Tamil Nadu unit the freedom to decide its stance. Party leaders have suggested they prefer supporting a “secular government” rather than allowing the BJP to gain influence in the state. TVK’s rise has effectively disrupted the long-standing dominance of DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu politics. In a major political upset, former Chief Minister M. K. Stalin lost his Kolathur seat and has already stepped down from his position. As Vijay intensifies efforts to gather support, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether he can successfully form the government and lead Tamil Nadu into a new political era.