TVK Reaches Out to CPI as Vijay Intensifies Bid to Form Tamil Nadu Government

Chennai (IANS): Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President C. Joseph Vijay has accelerated efforts to secure legislative support for government formation after his party emerged as the single largest entity in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. With 108 seats in the 234-member House, Vijay is actively seeking the backing of alliance partners from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).

Outreach to CPI and SPA Allies

The TVK has formally initiated communication with several key political players:

• CPI Engagement: CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian confirmed receiving a formal request from Vijay on Tuesday night seeking the party’s support.

• Decision Timeline: The CPI will discuss the TVK’s request during its executive committee meeting on May 8, with a potential emergency State committee meeting on May 9 for a final decision. The CPI holds two seats in the Assembly.

• Broader Alliance Building: The TVK has also approached the Congress (5 seats) and the CPI(M) (2 seats).

• Congress Stance: Internal sources suggest the Congress leadership has decided to support the TVK, though an official announcement is pending.

The Numbers Game

Despite its strong performance, the TVK faces a specific numerical challenge to reach a majority:

• Seat Adjustment: While the party won 108 seats, its effective strength will drop to 107 once Vijay resigns from one of his two elected constituencies, Perambur or Tiruchi East.

• Majority Mark: With a revised House strength of 233, the majority threshold is 117, leaving the TVK ten seats short of the requirement.

• Cross-Party Communication: The TVK has reportedly opened channels with legislators from both the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK camp to bridge this gap.

Governor’s Directive

The TVK has officially staked its claim to form the government with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, citing its status as the single largest party and its 34.92 per cent vote share. However, the Governor has reportedly requested that the TVK leadership provide proof of the necessary numerical support before extending a formal invitation to form the government.