Vijay to meet Thol Thirumavalavan as TVK stakes claim; Congress backs with 5 MLAs, BJP rules out ties
Tamil Nadu’s power struggle intensified as Vijay’s TVK staked claim to form the government after a meeting with the Governor, even as the party scrambled to secure the majority mark of 118 seats amid frenetic alliance talks and mounting uncertainty. Suspense over Vijay’s possible swearing-in persisted while speculation about a potential DMK–AIADMK arrangement kept the state on edge.
According to sources, the CPI, CPI(M) and VCK have extended support to TVK. Vijay is to meet VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, with political chatter suggesting the party is eyeing a key post if a new government takes shape. At the same time, TVK has reportedly threatened a mass resignation of all its MLAs as negotiations intensified.
The Congress has backed TVK with the support of five MLAs. The move drew sharp criticism from the DMK, which said the INDIA bloc had “collapsed” in Tamil Nadu. In a separate signal, Akhilesh Yadav stood by his “friend” the DMK amid the unfolding crisis. The BJP’s Tamil Nadu leadership said it would not have any ties with TVK, further narrowing the fledgling party’s options as talks continue.
With no clear majority yet in sight, smaller parties and independents have become pivotal to government formation. Amid the churn, AIADMK MLAs have reportedly been moved to resorts in Puducherry, highlighting the stakes and the churn across party lines.
With alliances in flux and speculation rife about a DMK–AIADMK understanding, all eyes remain on backchannel negotiations and the next steps, including whether and when Vijay might be sworn in.
