C Joseph Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), is conducting coalition talks to form a government in Tamil Nadu.
The negotiations follow a hung assembly result that has left the state without a clear majority, forcing the single-largest party to seek partners to avoid a political stalemate.
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly [1]. While the party is the largest single entity, it fell short of the 118-seat majority threshold required to govern independently [3].
Government-formation talks were reported on May 7 [5]. These negotiations are taking place at Lok Bhavan, the residence of Governor Rajendra Arlekar [7]. Reports said that Vijay has presented letters of support from 112 MLAs [6] as he attempts to secure the remaining votes necessary for a majority.
Following the assembly election held on April 23, 2026 [4], the political landscape has become fragmented. Vijay is reportedly courting support from other parties to stabilize his claim to the chief minister's office.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has entered the fray with a cautionary stance. The party issued a statement urging all stakeholders to respect the people's verdict, and avoid any manipulation of the results. The statement did not explicitly pledge support to any specific candidate or party.
The current deadlock has intensified focus on Lok Bhavan, where the Governor must decide who is best positioned to command a majority. With TVK holding 108 seats [1], the path to 118 depends on the willingness of smaller parties or opposition blocs to enter a coalition agreement.
“TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly”
The emergence of TVK as the single-largest party disrupts the traditional dominance of established Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu. Because Vijay lacks an outright majority, the state's governance now depends on precarious coalition arithmetic, where small parties hold significant leverage over the appointment of the next chief minister.
