Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay met with Governor RV Arlekar on Saturday to stake a claim to form the next Tamil Nadu government.
The meeting marks a critical step in the state's government formation process, as Vijay seeks to prove he commands a majority in the 234-member Assembly.
Vijay met the governor at the official residence in Chennai on May 9, 2026. The TVK leader said he has the support of 120 members of the legislative assembly [1]. This number exceeds the majority threshold of 118 MLAs required to govern [2].
According to reports, the TVK won 108 seats in the election, including the seat won by Vijay [3]. To reach the majority, the party secured unconditional support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). These two parties together contribute two MLAs to the TVK tally [4].
Reports on the exact number of supporting members vary slightly. While some sources cite 120 MLAs [1], a live feed from MSN reported the tally at 117 MLAs [6].
This visit was not the first interaction between the party leader and the governor this week. Sources differ on the frequency of these meetings; NDTV said this was the third meeting in as many days, while MSN said it was the fourth time Vijay met the governor [5].
Vijay's claim follows the pledge of support from the VCK and IUML, which allows the TVK to present itself as the leader of a stable coalition. The move aims to expedite the appointment of a new chief minister and the subsequent swearing-in ceremony.
“Vijay met the governor at the official residence in Chennai on May 9, 2026.”
The ability of an actor-turned-politician to secure a coalition of 120 MLAs indicates a significant shift in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. By bridging the gap between his party's 108 seats and the required majority through alliances with the VCK and IUML, Vijay has transitioned from a political outsider to a viable candidate for the chief ministership.
