Chennai : Actor-turned-politician Vijay on Saturday received the Governor’s clearance to form the government in Tamil Nadu after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), secured the support required to cross the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly. Vijay, accompanied by senior TVK leaders, submitted letters of support from 120 MLAs to the Governor after parties including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress extended “unconditional support” to the TVK chief for formation of a coalition government.
Saturday’s meeting was Vijay’s fourth with the Governor in a span of one week to seek an invitation to form the government. His earlier two attempts had failed after he fell short of the required letters of support from MLAs. The political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu ended after days of intense negotiations, with allies of the DMK eventually backing Vijay’s party and helping it cross the halfway mark in the 234-member Assembly. However, the coalition has only a slender majority of 120 MLAs.
TVK had emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in its maiden Assembly election, but remained 10 short of the majority mark. The party had subsequently reached out to the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League, all allies of the DMK, seeking support to form the government after the Assembly polls held on April 23. The results were declared on May 4.
TVK has also faced criticism from NDA ally Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AAMK), which accused the party of attempting horse-trading amid the intense government formation battle. The political developments also triggered a return of “resort politics” in Tamil Nadu, a phenomenon last witnessed after the death of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in 2016.
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