Joseph Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), ruled out giving cabinet berths to AIADMK rebels who support his party.

This decision comes as Vijay navigates the complex process of forming a government in Tamil Nadu. Balancing the demands of coalition partners is critical to maintaining a stable majority in the legislative assembly.

The TVK currently holds 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly [1]. This leaves the party 10 seats short of the 118 required for a majority [2]. To bridge this gap, the TVK is engaging in coalition talks with other parties. Support from Congress would add five MLAs to the TVK tally [3].

Despite the need for numbers, the TVK has declined to reward AIADMK rebels with ministerial positions. This move follows specific objections and warnings issued by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM). These allies said they oppose the inclusion of AIADMK rebels within a TVK-led cabinet.

There are conflicting reports regarding the status of these legislators. While some reports indicate that AIADMK rebels are extending support to the TVK, other AIADMK leaders said they have ruled out backing Vijay and called reports of pro-TVK MLAs false.

Vijay has prioritized the stability of his alliance with the VCK and CPM over the inclusion of individual defectors from the AIADMK. The party continues to negotiate with potential partners to secure the remaining seats necessary to govern the state.

“TVK rules out cabinet berths for AIADMK rebels who extend support to the party”

Vijay is prioritizing ideological alignment and coalition loyalty over opportunistic gains from opposition defections. By siding with the VCK and CPM against the AIADMK rebels, he is attempting to solidify a stable leftist-center coalition to reach the 118-seat majority threshold, even if it means alienating potential individual supporters from the AIADMK.