Last Updated on May 9, 2026 10:02 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
AMN
Bringing an end to five days of political uncertainty in Tamil Nadu, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on Saturday announced unconditional support to the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), clearing the way for the actor-turned-politician to form the next government with a majority in the Assembly.
Soon after the announcement, TVK founder Vijay met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Chennai and formally staked claim to form the government.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new Council of Ministers, headed by Vijay, is scheduled to be held in Chennai at 10 a.m. on Sunday. According to Raj Bhavan sources, the Governor has asked the incoming Chief Minister to prove his majority on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Assembly on or before May 13.
This was Vijay’s fourth meeting with the Governor since the declaration of election results, but unlike his earlier visits, the TVK chief now commands majority support in the 234-member House.
The political breakthrough came after the VCK formally extended support to TVK. Shortly afterwards, another former DMK ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), also announced its backing for Vijay. The IUML has two legislators in the Assembly.
With the support of the VCK and IUML, the strength of the pro-TVK camp has risen to 120 members, comfortably crossing the halfway mark of 118 needed to form the government.
Earlier in the day, TVK leader Adhav Arujuna confirmed that the VCK had decided to support the party. VCK legislature party leader Vanni Arasu later submitted a formal letter to the Governor conveying the party’s decision.
Calling the development a “victory,” Arujuna thanked the Congress, Left parties and VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan for backing TVK, expressing confidence that Vijay would soon take oath as Chief Minister.
Sources within the VCK indicated that the party is likely to extend outside support to the TVK-led administration for the time being, without immediately joining the government.
Before arriving at its final decision, the VCK had reportedly deliberated on placing certain conditions before extending support. Among its key concerns were the continuation of welfare programmes introduced during the previous DMK government and the preservation of social justice initiatives.
The party is also understood to have stressed the importance of continuing the two commissions set up during the earlier regime — one tasked with recommending legislation against honour killings and another examining reservation in promotions for government employees.
These discussions reportedly prompted VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan to meet DMK president MK Stalin at his Cenotaph Road residence in Chennai for consultations.
Sources said Stalin was broadly receptive to the proposals but also raised questions regarding the VCK’s future political alignment and its electoral strategy if both Dravidian majors were to support Thirumavalavan’s larger political ambitions.
The same proposal was later taken to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. However, sources close to the AIADMK leader said he firmly rejected the idea, believing such a move could hurt the party’s traditional support base.