Tamil Nadu Governor R V Arlekar has delayed the swearing-in of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Vijay as chief minister due to insufficient proof of majority [1].

The delay creates a constitutional stalemate in one of India's most populous states. Without a formal appointment, the state government remains in limbo while the Governor's office scrutinizes the legitimacy of the TVK's claim to power [1, 2].

According to the Governor's office, Vijay was not invited for the swearing-in ceremony because the TVK failed to prove a legislative majority [2]. The Governor said there was a lack of required hard-copy letters of support from two key allied parties: the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) [1, 2].

The majority threshold for the Tamil Nadu assembly is 118 seats [1]. Reports indicate the TVK is currently two MLAs short of this mark [1]. To bridge this gap, the TVK relies on the support of the VCK and IUML, both of which won two seats each in the assembly [2].

Despite the TVK's assertions of a coalition, the Governor's office said that zero letters of support have been received from the VCK and IUML [2]. This absence of documentation led Governor Arlekar to refuse the TVK's majority claim [1].

This political tension follows a period of high activity for the TVK. On April 20, 2026, Vijay held a massive roadshow in the Panchatti area of the Ponnery constituency to garner support for the polls [3]. While the party has attempted to project a unified front, the administrative requirement for physical letters of support has become the primary obstacle to Vijay assuming office [1, 2].

“TVK is two MLAs short of the 118-seat majority mark”

The situation highlights the critical role of the Governor's discretionary power in India's parliamentary system. By demanding physical documentation over verbal claims, the Governor is enforcing a strict interpretation of legislative majority rules, which can either prevent an unstable government or be perceived as a political maneuver to delay a specific candidate's ascent to power.