Vijay nears CM post as TVK secures 120 MLAs support in Tamil Nadu
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Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday moved closer to forming the next government in Tamil Nadu after securing the support of 120 MLAs in the 234-member Assembly, comfortably crossing the majority mark required to stake claim to power.
The latest support came after the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) formally extended backing to Vijay. IUML legislative party leader SSB Syed Farook Basha and deputy leader A.M. Shahjahan submitted a signed letter to Governor-in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, confirming their support for a TVK-led government.
Earlier, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) had also announced its support to TVK, helping Vijay consolidate the numbers needed to approach the Governor. With this, TVK has secured the backing of 120 MLAs, including 107 from TVK, five from the Congress, and two each from the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), VCK, and IUML.
Tamil Nadu went to the polls for all 234 Assembly constituencies in a single phase on April 23. The election witnessed a four-cornered contest involving the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Naam Tamilar Katchi, and TVK.
The results, declared on May 4, saw TVK emerge as the single-largest party with 108 seats. However, after Vijay decided to retain only one of the two constituencies he had won, the party’s effective strength was reduced to 107 seats.
Following the verdict, intense political negotiations took place in Chennai, with TVK opening talks with multiple parties to secure support for forming the government. The Communist Party of India and Communist Party of India (Marxist) were among the first to extend support, followed by the Congress. With backing from VCK and IUML, Vijay has now crossed the majority threshold required to form the government.
Sources said Vijay also sought an urgent appointment with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar before his scheduled departure to Kerala. The TVK leadership is expected to formally submit letters of support from alliance partners while staking claim to form the government.
TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna later told reporters that Vijay would soon be sworn in as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, as celebrations broke out among party workers across the state.
With IANS inputs