Tamil Nadu’s ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam on Wednesday dismissed speculation that support from Left parties could collapse if factions of the AIADMK were brought into the coalition backing Chief Minister Joseph Vijay.
TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna reiterated the party’s invitation to allies, including the CPM, CPI, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, and Indian Union Muslim League, to formally join the government. He said the chief minister remained committed to expanding the coalition.
Arjuna, who holds the Public Works and Sports portfolios, said the Congress, which has five seats and is the largest TVK ally, is expected to share power in the government. However, he declined to comment on details of a possible cabinet expansion, saying Vijay would make an announcement soon.
The TVK secured 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, falling 10 short of a majority. Vijay later resigned one of the two seats he won, reducing the party’s tally to 107. With support from the Congress, VCK, CPM, CPI, and IUML, the coalition currently has 120 MLAs, just above the majority mark of 118.
Speculation over a cabinet reshuffle intensified after reports emerged that around 25 rebel AIADMK MLAs backed the TVK during last week’s trust vote. Arjuna denied any immediate alliance plans with the AIADMK and said rebel legislators had the right to decide whom they support.
He also accused sections of the DMK and AIADMK of attempting to challenge the election verdict after the fractured mandate delivered in the April 23 polls.
Arjuna said the TVK’s allies had come together to “save democracy” and claimed many AIADMK workers had shifted support to the TVK after opposing renewed ties between the AIADMK and the BJP.