TVK Moves to Form Government in Tamil Nadu With Outside Support

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor Vijay, is moving to form the government in Tamil Nadu after winning 108 seats in the assembly elections, emerging as the single largest party but falling 10 seats short of a majority. Party leaders are convening at the Chennai headquarters to finalize plans and will soon submit a claim to the Governor, seeking up to two weeks to prove majority on the floor of the House.
TVK is in talks to secure outside support from former DMK allies, including the Congress (five seats), CPI (two), CPM (two), and VCK (two), according to party insiders. The proposed support structure resembles the 2006 minority DMK government, and signals a potential break in the DMK-Congress alliance, despite the Congress citing INDIA bloc commitments as a barrier to pre-poll coordination with TVK.
Alternative support could come from PMK, which won five seats and is allied with AIADMK, though TVK ruling out direct engagement with AIADMK due to its ties with the BJP—whom Vijay has openly opposed. Analysts say any coalition shift may influence BJP's calculus in southern India.
TVK captured 14 of 16 Chennai seats, breaking the DMK's long-standing dominance in the city. Vijay won from both Perambur and Trichy East. The swearing-in of the new Chief Minister is expected as early as May 7, with the legislative session to follow for the floor test.