Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party has threatened a mass resignation of its lawmakers if rival parties are invited to form the government.
The move could trigger a constitutional crisis in Tamil Nadu by stripping the legislature of a significant bloc of members. This pressure campaign aims to force the Governor to appoint Vijay as the head of the state government following the recent assembly polls.
The TVK claims it is the single-largest party after the elections held on April 23, 2024 [1]. According to reports, the party is prepared to have 107 of its MLAs resign if the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) are bypassed by the TVK and invited to lead [2].
Discrepancies exist regarding the exact number of lawmakers involved in the threat. Some reports indicate all 108 TVK MLAs would resign [1], while other sources state the number is 107 [2]. The party won a total of 108 seats in the election [2].
Vijay himself won two seats during the electoral process [2]. The TVK maintains that as the party with the most seats, it is the only legitimate choice for the Governor to consider when forming the new administration [2].
The party said it will not tolerate being sidelined in favor of the DMK or AIADMK. This stance places the Governor in a difficult position regarding the interpretation of mandate, and stability in the state legislature.
“TVK is threatening to resign all of its MLAs if either the DMK or AIADMK is invited to form the Tamil Nadu government.”
This ultimatum highlights the volatility of the current political landscape in Tamil Nadu. By threatening a mass resignation, the TVK is attempting to leverage its status as the single-largest party to prevent a coalition or a return to power for the established DMK and AIADMK blocs, potentially forcing a fresh election if the Governor does not comply.
