On Saturday, after much drama, suspense, and speculation, DMK allies VCK and IUML extended "unconditional support" to C. Joseph Vijay-led TVK, enabling it to touch the requisite numbers to form the government.
The suspense ended when the Thol. Thirumavalavan-led Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which has two seats, finally extended support.
The claims of Thol. Thirumavalavan, after extending support to Vijay, seemed to suggest that despite the pre-poll political slugfest and sparring, TVK forming the government had the tacit permission of DMK chief and former chief minister M. K. Stalin.
This was revealed by Thirumavalavan, who said Stalin told him that Vijay had to form the government and that nobody should "disturb" the TVK chief.
"...After the results on May 4, we met our alliance leader, CM MK Stalin. We thanked him, and then we discussed the results. He told us that we should not disturb TVK in forming the government. This is our stand, the president of our alliance told us. He expressed his views through the press that Vijay has to form the government. DMK and other allied parties will not be an obstacle to them. This is the stand of MK Stalin," the VCK leader was quoted as saying to news agency ANI.
He said VCK and the Left parties discussed that they should meet alliance head Stalin before declaring that they were going to support TVK.
"Our leaders met him, and we explained our decision. He said, 'Okay, go ahead.'"
He clarified that VCK's relationship with DMK will not be affected by the decision to support TVK.
"Our ties with the DMK will not get affected due to our stand, but it will help Vijay form the government and also prevent President’s Rule in the state," Thirumavalavan said.
He said his party exercised its freedom as a political party and, keeping in mind the state’s long-term vision, had extended unconditional support to TVK.
Meanwhile, congratulating Vijay, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said Vijay is able to become the CM with the help of the allies of the DMK, "and our leader, M.K. Stalin, has also earlier pointed out that he does not want a constitutional crisis."