C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday moved a step closer to becoming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister after Governor R. N. Ravi formally invited him to form the government following a meeting at Lok Bhavan.
The development came days after Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, winning 108 seats in its electoral debut. Although TVK fell short of the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly, Vijay reportedly assured the Governor that he would comfortably prove his majority during the trust vote.
Sources said Vijay presented details of the support backing his bid to form the government and conveyed confidence in securing the required numbers on the Assembly floor. Following the meeting, the Governor is understood to have expressed satisfaction with the assurances provided by the TVK leadership. Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony have reportedly begun, with the event likely to take place in Chennai on Friday or Saturday.
The political developments triggered excitement among TVK supporters, hundreds of whom gathered outside the Nehru Indoor Stadium hoping to witness an official announcement or ceremony. However, many were left disappointed after finding the gates locked and receiving no official communication regarding the event.
Supporters who had travelled from various parts of Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore and Arumbakkam, expressed confusion and heartbreak. Many said they relied on social media reports suggesting Vijay would be formally declared chief minister on Thursday.
Despite the disappointment, supporters remained loyal to Vijay, praising him for independently funding party activities and expressing faith that he would bring positive change to Tamil Nadu politics. Several attendees said they had waited for hours outside the venue hoping to catch a glimpse of the actor-turned-politician.
Meanwhile, the Congress party defended its decision to extend support to TVK amid criticism from political opponents. Congress Legislature Party leader S. Rajeshkumar said the decision was aimed at protecting Tamil Nadu's secular fabric and preventing communal forces from gaining political space in the state.
Rajeshkumar rejected allegations of political opportunism and said Congress remained committed to secularism and social justice. He noted that TVK had projected itself as a secular political movement and pointed out that Vijay had publicly identified former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj as his ideological inspiration.
He added that supporting a political movement committed to secular and social justice values would strengthen Tamil Nadu's democratic and secular foundations.
Political observers described the developments as a dramatic shift in Tamil Nadu politics, with Vijay becoming one of the few actors in recent decades to successfully convert cinematic popularity into a major electoral breakthrough in his first electoral contest. TVK's rise has significantly altered the state's traditional Dravidian political landscape long dominated by the DMK and AIADMK.
