Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay met Governor R.V. Arlekar on Saturday evening to announce his intention to form a government in Tamil Nadu.
The meeting marks a pivotal shift in the state's political landscape, as Vijay moves to establish the first coalition government in the region's history.
Vijay met with the governor at Lok Bhavan following hours of suspense regarding the timing of the meeting. The encounter occurred shortly before Governor Arlekar was scheduled to fly to Kerala at 7 p.m. [4]. Following the meeting, Vijay said his claim to lead the state after securing majority support.
The TVK won 108 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election [1]. While this number could potentially constitute a single-party majority, Vijay has secured unconditional support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) [2, 3].
Additional support comes from within the AIADMK. Reports indicate that more than 30 AIADMK MLAs are backing a potential split led by CV Shanmugam [3]. This combination of seats and allied support provides the necessary numbers for the TVK to command the assembly.
Vijay is scheduled to take the oath of office as Chief Minister at 10 a.m. on Sunday [4].
“Vijay met Governor R.V. Arlekar on Saturday evening to announce his intention to form a government.”
The transition to a TVK-led government signifies a major disruption of the traditional bipartisan dominance in Tamil Nadu. By combining a strong electoral showing of 108 seats with strategic alliances and internal splits within the AIADMK, Vijay is leveraging a coalition model to ensure stability and a broader power base for his first term as Chief Minister.
