Chennai, 9 May

It took five days, four meetings with the Governor and prolonged negotiations with potential allies, but the political drama in Tamil Nadu is heading towards its climax. Actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay, founder of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is set to take oath as Chief Minister at 10 am on Sunday at Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

The development follows an election result that stunned political observers, with TVK securing 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly and emerging as the single largest party, breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. Vijay’s party had earlier fallen short of a majority but quickly moved to secure external support.

A breakthrough came when DMK allies Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), each holding two seats, extended unconditional support to TVK. Along with backing from Congress and Left parties, the tally rose to 120, just above the majority mark of 118. This support enabled Vijay to stake claim to form government, though allegations of bargaining over portfolios and “resort politics” soon followed, with legislators being moved to hotels in Mamallapuram and Hyderabad.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar appointed Vijay as Chief Minister after receiving letters of support from allied parties following an hour-long meeting. The Governor has asked the new Chief Minister to seek a vote of confidence by 13 May. However, earlier attempts by Vijay to meet the Governor reportedly faced delays, triggering criticism from Left leaders who accused Raj Bhavan of obstructing the process.

Meanwhile, controversy erupted after the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) accused TVK of submitting a forged support letter claiming backing from its MLA. Party leader TTV Dhinakaran alleged horse-trading and filed a police complaint in Guindy prompting a preliminary inquiry. TVK dismissed the allegations releasing a video said to show the MLA signing the letter voluntarily.

The political transition has also sparked parallel legal and political developments. A retired IPS officer has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Governor’s refusal to initially invite Vijay to form government, arguing that the decision bypassed constitutional norms and denied a floor test despite TVK being the single largest party.

As Vijay prepares to take oath the emergence of TVK marks a significant shift in Tamil Nadu politics ending decades of duopoly betweenDravidian majors and ushering in a fragile coalition government dependent on diverse allies.

Reactions continued to pour in across parties, with AIADMK leaders offering cautious congratulations while maintaining political distance. Congress MLAs were shifted to Hyderabad amid fears of poaching, reflecting heightened “resort politics” in the state. Speculation also grew over cabinet allocations and a possible Deputy Chief Minister post for VCK as coalition negotiations continued ahead of the trust vote deadline.