Congress Extends Conditional Support to Vijay’s TVK in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: The Congress party has formally announced its support for actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the next government in Tamil Nadu. The announcement follows TVK’s emergence as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections, with 108 seats.

Conditions and Ideological Alignment

The Congress party’s support comes with specific requirements and a shared vision for the state’s future:

• Exclusion of “Communal Forces”: Support is strictly conditional on TVK keeping “communal forces” that do not believe in the Constitution—an apparent reference to the BJP and its allies—out of the alliance.
• Secular Mandate: Congress Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar described the election result as a mandate for a secular, progressive, and welfare-oriented government.
• Political Legacy: The partnership aims to revive the legacy of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj while upholding the social justice ideals of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and the constitutional vision of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• Long-term Partnership: The understanding is not limited to current government formation but is intended to extend into future local body, Lok Sabha, and Rajya Sabha elections.

The Path to a Majority

The five seats won by Congress are crucial for Vijay’s bid to reach the majority mark:

• The Gap: Contesting its maiden election, the TVK secured 108 seats, falling 10 seats short of the 118-seat majority in the 234-member Assembly.
• The SPA Split: Congress won its five seats as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, but has now pivoted to support Vijay.
• Leadership Commitment: The statement noted that Vijay and Rahul Gandhi are committed to fulfilling the aspirations of Tamil Nadu, with a particular focus on the youth who backed the TVK.