Single Largest Party TVK Falls Short of Magic Figure; Smaller Parties Emerge as Kingmakers
CHENNAI: The formation of a new government in Tamil Nadu remains in a state of high-intensity deadlock. On Thursday, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar once again directed C. Joseph Vijay, the leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), to provide concrete evidence of a majority before being invited to take the oath as Chief Minister.
The actor-turned-politician met with the Governor at Lok Bhavan for the second time within 24 hours to formally stake his claim. While the TVK emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded Assembly elections, the Raj Bhavan issued a clarification stating that the “requisite majority support” essential for government formation has not yet been established.
The Numbers Game
The April 23 polls delivered a fractured mandate, fundamentally altering the state’s political landscape. In the 234-member Assembly, the magic number for a simple majority is 118.
- TVK: 108 seats
- DMK: 59 seats
- AIADMK: 47 seats
- Congress: 5 seats (Switched support to TVK)
- Others: 15 seats (CPI, CPI(M), VCK, PMK, IUML, DMDK, AMMK, and BJP)
Despite securing 108 seats and gaining the backing of the 5 Congress MLAs—taking their tally to 113—Vijay is still 5 seats short of the threshold. This deficit has turned smaller parties into crucial “kingmakers.”
Intense Lobbying and “Resort Politics”
In a strategic move to bridge the gap, TVK Joint General Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar reached out to the Left parties (CPI and CPI(M)) on Thursday, formally requesting their support. The TVK has also initiated talks with the VCK and IUML. Notably, the party has ruled out any alliance with the BJP-led NDA.
The TVK leadership emphasized their willingness to offer “shares in power,” a move designed to entice allies by allowing them to implement their specific ideologies through governance.
Meanwhile, the AIADMK has shifted its newly elected legislators to Puducherry. While the party has not officially labeled this a “resort stay” to prevent poaching, the move underscores the volatility of the current political climate.
Constitutional Debate Erupts
The Governor’s decision to demand proof of majority prior to the invitation has sparked a heated constitutional debate. The Congress has accused the Raj Bhavan of acting at the behest of the Centre to delay the transition of power.
“The majority must be tested on the floor of the Assembly, not within the walls of Raj Bhavan,” stated Congress MP Manickam Tagore, arguing that as the leader of the single largest party, Vijay should be invited immediately.
Conversely, the BJP defended the Governor’s stance. BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy noted that under Article 164, the Governor is duty-bound to verify that a stable government can be formed, especially given the fractured nature of the verdict.
As the stalemate continues, all eyes are on the state committees of the CPI(M) and VCK, whose decisions in the coming 24 hours could determine whether Tamil Nadu sees a TVK-led government or a prolonged period of political uncertainty.
