Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 | TN govt drama peaks: Vijay nears CM post, but magic mark eludes him

Chennai: Uncertainty prevailed over the formation of the next government in Tamil Nadu on Friday despite Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay inching closer to achieving the magic number of 118 after the CPI (M) and CPI with a combined strength of four extended outside support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led dispensation. Prominent Dalit party, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) with two MLAs, said it has made a decision on its stand vis-à-vis supporting TVK but will make a formal announcement only Saturday.

Time was running out as the outgoing assembly’s tenure has already ended and a new government has to be in place by May 10 failing which the state might go into a brief spell of President’s rule.

Vijay met the Governor for the third time in three days but the Governor is believed to have insisted on the support of 118 MLAs while the TVK has submitted letters of support only from 116 legislators.

Friday was a day of dramatic developments as the IUML, with two MLAs, making several U-turns after announcing support for the TVK. In the end, IUML said it will not support a TVK government and will continue in the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, who held back-to-back meetings with his partymen, made a “surprise visit” to outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin’s residence and was closeted with him for over an hour. It is believed that the idea of Thirumavalavan as Chief Minister with support from DMK and AIADMK is also being discussed but there was no forward movement on it. After the meeting, VCK announced it will declare its decision Saturday.

Injecting a new angle, AMMK chief T T V Dhinakaran met the Governor late Friday night and submitted a letter seeking to invite AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to form the government. After the meeting, he alleged that his lone MLA S Kamaraj, who won from Mannargudi seat, was missing from the resort where he was staying since Friday evening, and raised a suspicion that he might be in touch with TVK.

However, Dhinakaran and Kamaraj returned to the Raj Bhavan a few hours later, in yet another dramatic turn of events. His letter of support to EPS triggered a speculation whether the AIADMK, which won 47 MLAs, was trying to form a government with outside support from DMK. However, the DMK on Friday said it will not support the AIADMK.

After hectic parleys, CPI and CPI (M) announced “unconditional” support to the TVK government from outside with the primary objective to keep communal forces at bay in Tamil Nadu.

“We will not join the TVK cabinet. We have not entered into an alliance with the TVK; we have only extended our support. However, we will continue to travel with the DMK in the struggle to oppose communal forces and protect state rights along with other issues that are central to Tamil Nadu,” the two parties said in a joint statement.

After meeting the governor, Vijay drove straight to meet Left leaders to thank them for their support.

Sources said the VCK was bargaining hard by demanded deputy chief minister’s post for its leader Thol. Thirumavalavan. Party leaders indicated in their social media posts that they have decided to support TVK but said only a formal communication from the party is final.

Left parties announced their support after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge telephoned leaders of both CPI and CPI(M) seeking their support to TVK and Vijay.