Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won support of 120 MLAs on Friday and met Governor Rajendra Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in the evening. However, sources have revealed that he could only produce written support of just 116 MLAs.
During the meeting with governor, Vijay assured Arlekar that he would come back with signatures of the two VCK and two IUML MLAs. Though earlier reports claimed that Vijay would be sworn in on Saturday at 11 am, the governor did not formally invite the TVK chief to form government due to lack of majority.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: TVK chief Vijay meets Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and stakes claim to form Government in the state.
— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026
(Video Source: Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan) pic.twitter.com/SleWYzzvZm
Arlekar's office is likely to announce the swearing-in ceremony after the formal letters from VCK and IUML are submitted.
In the 234-member assembly, Vijay's TVK needs 118 MLAs to secure majority. TVK currently has 108 seats, but Vijay, who won from Perambur and Trichi East, has to vacate one of the seats. Since the party has just 107 legislators, it needs support of 11 more MLAs.
The Congress was the first to extend support of its five MLAs on Thursday, taking the total number to 112. The party was offered two minister posts and one Rajya Sabha berth.
The CPI and CPI(M) on Friday decided to support the government from outside and not to join the cabinet. The two Left parties have two MLAs each, taking the total number to 116.
The VCK, which was offered the deputy chief minister post, was yet to publicly back the TVK and send formal written support. It has two MLAs. This delay led Vijay to meet the governor with 116 signatures.
Around the time when Lok Bhavan meeting was concluded, IUML also extended outside support for TVK. It also has two MLAs.
If Vijay is able to secure the written support of the four MLAs from VCK and IUML, the TVK-led alliance will see its tally rise to 120, well above the majority mark. However, it remains to be seen how stable the upcoming government in Tamil Nadu will be, given the lack of experience of most of the TVK MLAs and the wafer-thin majority of the alliance.
