Actor-turned-politician Vijay has emerged as a major political force in Tamil Nadu after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, secured 107 seats in the 2026 Assembly election, ending the decades-long dominance of the Dravidian majors in the state and setting the stage for intense political negotiations over government formation.
With the 234-member Assembly requiring 118 seats for a majority, TVK fell short by 11 seats despite emerging as the single-largest party. The development has created a politically fluid situation, with parties exploring possible alliances and constitutional options.
Tamil Nadu Governor R. V. Arlekar on Thursday informed Vijay that he must demonstrate majority support before being invited to form the government. According to Raj Bhavan, the "requisite majority support" had not yet been established.
TVK leaders said the party has already secured the support of the Congress, which holds five seats, and is in discussions with Left parties and smaller regional outfits to bridge the remaining gap. Sources said the party is also considering legal options regarding the Governor's decision.
Amid reports that rival parties could attempt to form an alternate coalition government, TVK warned that all its MLAs could resign if either the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by M. K. Stalin or the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami attempts to stake claim to power.
The proposed resignation strategy could potentially trigger a constitutional and political crisis by drastically reducing the effective strength of the Assembly and complicating government formation. Constitutional experts noted that such a move could eventually invite judicial scrutiny and even raise the possibility of President's Rule under Article 356 if a stable government cannot be formed.
Meanwhile, the DMK convened internal meetings and authorised M. K. Stalin to take "emergency decisions" in the interest of ensuring stability in the state. Party leaders said their focus remains on avoiding another election and maintaining a stable administration.
Sources indicated that discussions within the DMK included various possibilities, including extending outside support to an AIADMK-led government, although senior party leaders were reportedly cautious about public reaction to such an arrangement.
The AIADMK has also adopted a wait-and-watch approach. Edappadi K. Palaniswami reportedly asked party MLAs to remain calm and ruled out any immediate alliance discussions with TVK.
The Governor's stance has drawn criticism from several political parties and leaders. The Tamil Nadu unit of the Communist Party of India stated that, as the single-largest party, TVK should be given an opportunity to prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly, citing constitutional conventions and Supreme Court rulings, including the S. R. Bommai case.
Thol. Thirumavalavan also backed Vijay's claim, saying the Governor should allow the party to seek a floor test after the swearing-in process.
Actor and politician Kamal Haasan also expressed support for Vijay, while the unfolding political developments continue to keep Tamil Nadu on edge as parties weigh coalition possibilities and constitutional options.
