Tamil Nadu Governor R. V. Arlekar said he is not convinced actor-politician Vijay has the majority needed to form a government in the state.
The decision leaves the leadership of Tamil Nadu in limbo after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) failed to secure an outright victory in the recent elections. The outcome forces a period of political negotiation as the state seeks a stable administration.
Vijay, the leader of the TVK, met with the governor at the official office in Chennai on Friday to stake his claim to form the next government. However, the governor said Vijay will not be invited to take the oath as chief minister tomorrow.
According to election results, the TVK won 108 seats [1] in the 234-member assembly. This total is 10 seats short [4] of the 118-seat majority mark [2] required to govern.
The governor's hesitation stems from a lack of verified support. While some reports indicate that the Congress party's five seats, and two seats each from the CPI, CPI(M), and VCK would bring the TVK's total to 118 [3], the governor said he remains unconvinced. This uncertainty is compounded by the fact that potential allies, including the AMMK and IUML, have declined to back the party [1].
Furthermore, the governor's office noted that written support from a sufficient number of members of the legislative assembly has not been produced to validate the claim. While some sources suggested an oath ceremony was likely for tomorrow, the governor has now postponed any such swearing-in ceremony.
Vijay had previously told the governor he possessed the necessary 118 members of the legislative assembly to lead the state. The governor's refusal to accept this claim without further proof creates a stalemate between the TVK and the state's constitutional head.
“The governor said he is not convinced Vijay has the required 118-member majority.”
The governor's refusal to invite Vijay to take the oath indicates that the TVK's electoral success is insufficient for a mandate without a formal, written coalition. By requiring documented proof of support, the governor is preventing a potential government collapse that could occur if a chief minister is sworn in without a stable, verifiable majority in the assembly.
