by Our Correspondent in Chennai
Political uncertainty has deepened in Tamil Nadu after reports suggested that actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has fallen short of the required majority to form the government, despite securing 108 seats in the Assembly elections. With the support of Congress, TVK’s total strength is reported to have reached 112 seats, still below the 118-seat majority mark needed to form a government, while other parties have not yet extended support.
In a key development, Vijay is said to have met the Governor Arlekar to stake claim for forming the government. However, the Governor reportedly made it clear that without a written support of 118 MLAs, a formal invitation to form the government cannot be issued. Following this setback, Vijay is understood to be seeking additional support from VVIP and Communist parties to bridge the remaining gap of six seats, with crucial discussions expected to continue today.
At the same time, parallel political consultations are taking place across major parties in the state. The DMK, led by M. K. Stalin, is reportedly holding separate discussions with its MLAs, while the AIADMK is also reviewing its position with its legislators. Amid these developments, political reports have emerged suggesting that the DMK may extend support to AIADMK in a bid to help form a stable government, significantly altering the current power dynamics.
Adding further weight to these developments, AIADMK MP Thambidurai has stated that party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) will once again assume the office of Chief Minister. He expressed confidence that EPS enjoys strong public support and that the party is prepared to take charge of governance. This claim has intensified speculation that EPS could return to power with external backing, including possible support from rival political camps.
As uncertainty continues, the political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu remains highly tense. With the Governor insisting on a clear majority and parties engaged in last-minute negotiations, attention has now shifted to ongoing consultations within TVK and the possibility of new alliances emerging. The coming hours are expected to be decisive, as Vijay’s political setback and AIADMK’s resurgence under EPS redefine the state’s power struggle.
