Tamil Nadu plunged into political uncertainty after assembly elections yielded no majority in the 234-member house, with the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam staking claim to power despite holding only 108 seats. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Political Affairs Committee backed a "secular" government with TVK, triggering a rift in the AIADMK as over 25 party MLAs support senior leader C.V. Shanmugam’s push to back the actor-turned-politician’s party against chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s opposition.

Election results show the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam secured 59 seats, AIADMK 47, Congress 5, and Pattali Makkal Katchi 4, with smaller parties holding the remainder. TVK emerged as the single largest party but remains 10 seats short of the 118-majority mark, forcing complex alliance arithmetic to reach the threshold.

Numbers remain precarious even with external support, as TVK must vacate one of two seats won by Vijay and will lose voting strength once the Speaker is elected. A Left-secular bloc reaches 121 but is fragile, AIADMK backing offers 155 but risks ideological conflict, and PMK inclusion raises caste tensions while providing 125 seats.

The Congress has not finalized its support despite party high command backing a secular arrangement, with calculations showing TVK could drop to 106 effective strength after by-election and Speaker vacancy rules. AIADMK chief Palaniswami remains opposed to aligning with Vijay’s party as negotiations continue across Chennai.

Parties continue negotiations with no clear path to 118, and the Congress is expected to take a final decision on support while the AIADMK works to contain internal rebellion among its 47 elected members.