M.A. Baby, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), said only the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (TVK) can form a government in Tamil Nadu.

This statement follows the April 23, 2024, assembly election results, which created a complex path to a majority in the state legislature. The endorsement from a major left-wing leader signals a potential shift in power dynamics as parties negotiate to reach the required seat threshold.

TVK, led by Vijay, emerged as the single-largest party by winning 108 seats [1]. To form a government in the 234-member Assembly, a party or coalition must reach a majority threshold of 118 seats [1].

Baby said the comments during government-formation briefings in Chennai on May 2, 2024. He said, "Only Vijay's TVK has the chance to form a government in Tamil Nadu."

According to some reports, TVK crossed the 118-seat mark after receiving support from the CPI(M), CPI, and VCK [2]. This alliance would provide the numerical strength necessary to establish a legal majority, and appoint a new chief minister.

However, the prospect of a coalition is not without internal conflict. While Baby expressed support for TVK's ability to lead, a CPI(M) spokesperson said, "We will not share power with TVK."

This contradiction highlights a divide within the left-wing strategy. One faction views TVK as the only viable vehicle for government formation, while another refuses to accept cabinet positions or formal power-sharing agreements in such an arrangement.

“"Only Vijay's TVK has the chance to form a government in Tamil Nadu."”

The situation in Tamil Nadu represents a fragmented mandate where no single party achieved an outright majority. While the CPI(M) leadership acknowledges TVK as the only entity capable of leading a government, the refusal to share power suggests a strategy of 'outside support.' In this scenario, left parties may provide the votes necessary for TVK to pass a confidence motion without taking ministerial portfolios, thereby influencing policy from the periphery without entering a formal coalition.