Vijay's Tamil Nadu Kazhagam (TVK) party warned that 107 of its lawmakers will resign if the DMK and AIADMK form a coalition government [1].
The threat creates a high-stakes deadlock in Tamil Nadu, as the TVK attempts to leverage its position as the single-largest bloc to secure the right to lead the state. If the resignations occur, it could trigger a constitutional crisis or force new elections by depleting the legislative assembly's membership.
TVK secured 108 seats in the 2024 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections [1]. Despite this plurality, the party remains 10 seats short of a majority [1]. This gap has opened the door for rival parties, specifically the DMK and AIADMK, to negotiate a potential power-sharing agreement to shut the TVK out of government.
TVK leadership said the party deserves the first opportunity to form the government because of its standing as the largest single party. The threat to resign involves nearly all of the party's elected members, with 107 MLAs prepared to step down if the rival coalition materializes [1].
This maneuver is designed to pressure the DMK and AIADMK against a partnership. By threatening a mass exit, the TVK seeks to make the state ungovernable for any coalition that excludes them. The party is positioning its legislative strength as a tool for political leverage during the post-election government formation process [1].
The outcome now depends on whether the DMK and AIADMK prioritize their combined numbers over the risk of a diminished assembly. The TVK has made it clear that it will not accept a government formed by its primary rivals through a strategic alliance [1].
“TVK has threatened that all 107 of its newly elected MLAs will resign if the DMK and AIADMK form a coalition government.”
This strategy represents a high-risk gamble by the TVK to force a government mandate without a formal majority. By threatening mass resignations, the party is attempting to create a 'poison pill' that makes a rival coalition unattractive to the DMK and AIADMK, as a significantly reduced assembly could lead to instability or a loss of legitimacy for any newly formed government.
