The oath-taking ceremony for Vijay as Tamil Nadu chief minister has been delayed while the governor reviews government formation options [1, 2].
The delay creates a period of political instability in the state, as the largest party lacks the numbers to govern alone. This uncertainty has sparked rumors of unexpected alliances between rival parties to prevent a constitutional crisis.
Vijay's Tamil Nadu Krishnan (TVK) party won 108 seats [3], falling short of the 118-seat majority required in the 234-member assembly [3]. Because of this shortfall, Governor P.S. Arlekar is reviewing whether Vijay can be invited to form a government [2, 5].
Vijay is scheduled to meet with incoming TVK MLAs at 11 a.m. on May 7 [4, 6] to discuss the next steps for the party. The meeting in Chennai comes as the TVK seeks to secure the necessary support to reach the majority mark.
The Congress party, which won five seats [1], has indicated its support for TVK. However, the governor's office has provided conflicting signals regarding the timeline. IndiaTV News said that no final decision has been taken on inviting Vijay to form the government [1]. Conversely, the Financial Express said that the governor sent Vijay back with an assurance that he "won't invite any other party" [2].
M.K. Stalin, a leader with the DMK, said, "We want to avoid any constitutional crisis or the need for fresh elections" [2]. The urgency for a resolution is heightened by reports of potential alliance talks between the DMK and the AIADMK [2].
Governor Arlekar remains the central figure in the process, weighing the TVK's status as the largest party against the legal requirement for a stable majority before the swearing-in ceremony can proceed [2, 5].
““Won’t invite any other party.””
The current deadlock highlights the fragility of the 2026 election results, where no single party achieved a mandate. While TVK is the largest party, its inability to hit the 118-seat threshold makes it dependent on smaller allies like Congress or a deal with larger rivals. The governor's hesitation suggests a cautious approach to ensure that whoever is invited to form the government can survive a floor test, preventing the immediate need for another costly election cycle.
