Actor-turned-politician Vijay is expected to take the oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 8, 2024 [4].
The move marks a significant political shift in the state as a cinema star transitions into the highest executive office. This transition occurs following a strategic alliance between Vijay's party and the Indian National Congress to ensure a majority government.
Vijay leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which emerged as the single largest party by winning 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly [1]. However, a majority in the assembly requires 118 seats [3]. To bridge this gap, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee has extended its support to the TVK.
Congress won five seats in the assembly [2]. By backing Vijay, the party provides the necessary numbers to stabilize the government and keep other political rivals from power.
"Congress has decided to extend its full support to TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu," Girish Chodank, a Congress spokesperson, said.
The alliance is driven by a shared goal of maintaining a non-communal administration. An unnamed Congress spokesperson said the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government, and the party is determined not to have the BJP and its proxies run the state.
Vijay is slated to be sworn in tomorrow in Chennai, where the Governor's office is located [4]. The ceremony will formalize the TVK-led administration's control over the state.
“Congress has decided to extend its full support to TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu.”
The ascent of Vijay to the Chief Minister's office illustrates the enduring influence of cinema in Tamil Nadu politics. By partnering with Congress, the TVK secures a governing majority while aligning itself with a national secular platform to exclude the BJP from state power. This coalition suggests a strategic priority for the Congress party to maintain a foothold in the south through regional power-brokers rather than relying on its own limited seat count.
