TVK moves closer to government formation in Tamil Nadu after support from Left parties

While CPI and CPI (M) officially announced their support for Vijay, there were indications that VCK had also backed TVK, while IUML said it would support initiatives towards government formation. Vijay is expected to be sworn in on Saturday.

PTI, May 08, 2026, Chennai : TVK chief Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar to stake claim to form the government at Lok Bhavan, in Chennai on Friday. ANI Photo.

TVK chief Vijay on Friday moved closer to forming his maiden government as Left parties declared support for him, capping days of hectic parleys aimed at government formation.

While CPI and CPI (M) officially announced their support for Vijay, there were indications that VCK had also backed TVK, while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) said it would support initiatives towards government formation. Vijay is expected to be sworn in on Saturday.

Hours after the Left parties pledged unconditional support, Vijay reached the office of the Governor in Guindy over government formation, and TVK supporters broke into celebrations here and elsewhere in the state, anticipating Vijay's swearing-in.

Though VCK did not make any official announcement immediately on support to TVK, party chief Thol Thirumavalavan has asserted several times that his party's stand will be in sync with the line taken by the Left parties.

In the April polls, TVK won 108 constituencies, including Vijay's two seats, and emerged as the single largest party. TVK founder Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won, as per EC norms. The Congress party has extended the support of its five MLAs to Vijay, who needs the support of 118 legislators to form a government.

As per the calculations, the strength of TVK and its supporting MLAs now stands at 116, taking into account the requirement of Vijay resigning from one of the two seats he contested from — Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli East.

That being the case, Vijay now requires two more MLAs' support to usher in his maiden government, and VCK is all set to announce its decision on Saturday, amid indications that it might follow the Left parties.

CPI, CPI (M) and VCK have two seats each in the 234-member House.

VCK leader Vanniarasu, a close aide of the party founder, gave a clear indication that Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi was keen on getting a share in power, which the TVK is prepared to offer.

According to Marxist leader and former CPI (M) state secretary K Balakrishnan, besides the two Left parties, VCK and IUML have also given letters, indicating they too have extended support to TVK, which originally lacked numbers to form a government. He claimed Vijay is "being invited" by Governor Arlekar to form a government and that he will be sworn in on Saturday morning.

Welcoming the outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin's statement urging Governor Arlekar to immediately take necessary steps to ensure that a new government is formed as per the Constitution, IUML cryptically said its "two MLAs would support the initiatives by the Governor towards the government formation."

The statement by IUML top leader Prof KM Kader Mohideen is seen as a hint that IUML shall, in some ways, "facilitate" government formation.

Vijay, who has already staked a claim to form the government, had a brief meeting with the Governor during their third meeting in three days, sources said.

Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, with 108 seats but 10 short of a majority initially, had earlier reached out to CPI, CPI (M), IUML and the VCK — all DMK allies, seeking their support to form a government after winning its maiden Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, which was held on April 23. IUML has also won two seats.

Vijay visited the offices of the CPI and CPI (M) and thanked the Left leaders for their support of his party to form the government. It was his first visit to the Communist parties' offices.

Left parties have asserted that they will support the TVK form government but also continue their "journey" with the DMK.

CPI State Secretary M Veerapandian said, "People have proposed democracy, and we have seconded it," and that the party extends support to TVK.

As regards protection of the state's rights and similar issues, the Left parties will continue to align with the DMK, CPI (M) State Secretary P Shanmugam said.

The Left parties, both part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, said that the decision was taken in order to prevent the BJP's "backdoor entry" into the state. They will remain with the DMK vis-à-vis state rights. The Communist parties announced that they will not be a part of the TVK cabinet.

The CPI and CPI (M) extended their support to the actor-politician-led party after a day-long deliberation.

While the CPI initially informed the Tamil Nadu Governor of its decision to support TVK, CPI (M) followed suit shortly, bringing Vijay closer to the simple majority mark. Both parties addressed letters to the Governor informing him of their support for the TVK.

Addressing a joint press conference, CPI (M) State Secretary P Shanmugam and CPI State Secretary M Veerapandian declared unconditional support for the TVK.

"If no government is formed within 10 days, it may lead to imposition of Governor's rule. As regards protection of the state's rights, the Left parties will continue to align with the DMK," Shanmugam said.

The Marxist party leader declined to answer questions related to future elections and with which party the Left bloc would forge an electoral alliance.

CPI, CPI (M), IUML and VCK contested the 2026 polls as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).

Responding to queries about his recent meeting with DMK president and outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin, the VCK leader maintained that the party remains part of the SPA. He described the meeting with Stalin as a courtesy call between alliance partners.

Pressed further on whether the VCK would support an alternative front if it were given a share in power — a long-standing demand of the party — Thirumavalavan reiterated that he would not engage in speculation.

Meanwhile, the Congress staged a protest against the Governor for not inviting TVK chief Vijay to form the government. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai, AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Girish Chodankar, and party workers participated in the agitation held here.