TVK, which won 108 seats in its electoral debut, accused the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of exploring a possible arrangement to keep Vijay out of power despite the public mandate.
BY PC Bureau
May 7, 2026: Tamil Nadu’s post-election political standoff intensified dramatically on Thursday evening after actor-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) issued a stern warning that all party MLAs could resign en masse if the DMK or AIADMK attempted to form a government through what it described as “subversion of the people’s mandate.”
The warning followed reports of behind-the-scenes consultations and possible backchannel communication between the state’s two traditional Dravidian rivals — the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam — triggering fears within the TVK camp that efforts were underway to keep Vijay out of power despite his party emerging as the single-largest force in the Assembly elections.
TVK leaders have reportedly conveyed to Raj Bhavan that bypassing the single-largest party would amount to a “betrayal of democracy” and violate established constitutional convention.
TVK Stakes Claim, But Falls Short of Majority
In its electoral debut, TVK won 108 seats, with Vijay himself securing victory from two constituencies. After vacating one seat, the party’s effective strength stands at 107 MLAs in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, where the majority mark is 118.
The party has already secured support from the Indian National Congress and its five MLAs, taking the alliance tally to around 112 seats. Negotiations are continuing with Left parties, PMK factions, independents, and smaller regional groups to bridge the remaining gap.
Sources said several legislators from smaller outfits are informally supportive but are awaiting clarity on the Governor’s stand before publicly backing the TVK.
Governor Yet to Invite Vijay
The crisis deepened after R. V. Arlekar declined to immediately invite Vijay to form the government during their second meeting in two days.
According to sources, Vijay presented evidence of growing support and offered to prove his majority on the Assembly floor. However, the Governor reportedly insisted on formal letters of support from at least 118 MLAs before extending an invitation.
A Raj Bhavan statement later noted that the “requisite majority support has not yet been established.”
TVK leaders reacted sharply, arguing that constitutional practice traditionally gives the single-largest party the first opportunity to prove its majority in the House. Some leaders accused the Governor of “buying time” for rival formations to engineer an alternative arrangement.
DMK, AIADMK Hold Internal Consultations
Earlier in the day, outgoing Chief Minister M. K. Stalin chaired a high-level meeting of the DMK leadership in Chennai. Party sources said resolutions were passed authorising Stalin to take “emergency political decisions” while stressing the need to prevent fresh elections and keep “communal forces” out of power.
DMK legislators were reportedly instructed to remain in Chennai amid fears of poaching attempts.
The AIADMK, led by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, also held internal deliberations amid speculation over possible outside support arrangements or temporary understandings aimed at preventing another election.
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TVK Warns of Mass Resignations
In its sharpest response so far, TVK warned that any attempt by the DMK or AIADMK to form a government through defections, post-poll deals, or “anti-mandate manipulation” would trigger coordinated resignations by all its MLAs.
Party insiders believe such a move could force fresh elections while generating public sympathy for Vijay by portraying him as a victim of entrenched political interests.
“This mandate belongs to the people. If the verdict is stolen, we are prepared to return to the electorate,” a senior TVK leader said.
High-Stakes Political Moment
Vijay’s electoral breakthrough has disrupted Tamil Nadu’s decades-old DMK-AIADMK duopoly, with TVK reportedly securing nearly 34–35 percent vote share in its maiden election outing.
However, the fractured verdict has triggered intense political maneuvering in one of the state’s most closely watched elections in recent years.
Constitutional experts note that while Governors retain discretion in inviting parties to form governments, established precedent generally favours allowing the single-largest party to prove its majority within a reasonable timeframe.
As emergency meetings continue, MLAs remain under close watch, and backchannel negotiations intensify, Tamil Nadu finds itself in the midst of one of its most uncertain and politically volatile transitions in decades.
