Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 | Left parties the cynosure of all eyes as deadlock continues

New Delhi: With Governor Rajendra Arlekar refusing to invite Vijay to form a government in Tamil Nadu as he is yet to cobble up a majority, all eyes are on the CPI(M), CPI and VCK – considered close to DMK – on whether it will officially support TVK so that the stalemate is broken.

The parties, especially CPI(M), are looking at reported attempts of the DMK and AIADMK to form a government as “unacceptable” with leaders insisting that it is a “manipulation” of the verdict in favour of TVK and warning that anyone seen supporting it will be wiped out in the next elections.

The announcement of support of the three parties with two each MLAs is crucial for TVK, as it would enable it to touch the half-way mark of 118. TVK has in effect only 107 MLAs as its chief Vijay won from two seats while its deficit was reduced to six after the five-member Congress offered its support.

The state leadership of both the CPI(M) and CPI would be meeting in Chennai on Friday to take a call on the issue even as General Secretaries MA Baby (CPI(M) and D Raja (CPI) met here on Thursday to discuss the developments. 

Even as they stopped short of announcing support, both Baby and Raja criticised Arlekar for not inviting Vijay to form the government on the pretext of not providing enough letters of support while insisting that the mandate is for TVK though it has not managed a majority on its own.

CPI(M), CPI and VCK are co-ordinating with each other and will take a decision together. Sources said the CPI(M) has made it clear that it would not support any move by the DMK and AIADMK to form a government, as it would be providing the BJP an upperhand.

The reading in the Left parties is that Vijay has made it clear that his party is opposed to both the BJP and DMK and they would have to review its stand of being with the DMK if it moves ahead with such plans.

Supporting such a move would be detrimental to their interests as a mid-term election would be inevitable and all those who support such a move would be wiped out, sources said. “Should we indulge in such foolishness? There will be no democratic ” a senior Left leader asked.

When asked why the party was shying away from officially announcing support to TVK, the leader shot back, “what does it mean when we say that the Governor should invite Vijay to form government?”

DH on May 6 had reported that the dilemma for the Left parties is that they are a bit uncomfortable with immediately coming out of a DMK alliance under which it fought the elections, as it framed it as a question of political morality.