Tamil Nadu Governor Vishwanath Rajendra Arlekar has asked actor-politician Vijay to prove he has majority support before taking the oath as chief minister.
The standoff creates a constitutional crisis in Chennai, as the leader of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) must secure additional legislative backing to avoid a prolonged government vacancy.
During a meeting on Wednesday, May 5, at the Raj Bhavan, the governor said that he was not convinced by the numbers presented by the TVK. Arlekar said that Vijay needs to produce a letter confirming the support of 118 legislators [1] before he can be invited to form the government.
Following elections held in April 2026 [2], the TVK emerged as the largest party. However, reports indicate the party currently holds 113 legislators [3] — five short of the 118 required by the governor to ensure a stable administration.
The governor's demand has sparked immediate political backlash. Kamal Haasan said that by not inviting Vijay to form the government, the governor was "disrespecting the mandate". A spokesperson for the Communist Party of India said that the single-largest party must get a chance to prove its majority on the Assembly floor.
In response to the requirement, the TVK is considering filing a court case to challenge the governor's decision. The party argues that the constitutional procedure should allow the largest party to attempt to gather support after being invited to form the government, rather than requiring a written list of legislators beforehand.
While some reports suggest the governor has already rebuffed Vijay's attempt to form the government, other sources say no final decision has been reached regarding the invitation for the swearing-in ceremony.
“"You need to produce a letter confirming the support of 118 legislators before I can consider inviting you to form the government."”
This dispute centers on the discretionary power of the governor versus the mandate of the single-largest party in a hung assembly. By demanding written proof of 118 seats before the invitation to form a government, the governor is prioritizing stability over the traditional practice of allowing a leader to prove their majority through a floor test in the legislature.
