Vijay, chief of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), met Governor Rajendra Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Chennai to stake his claim to form the next government.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture for the state as the recent elections resulted in a hung assembly. Because no single party holds an absolute majority, the Governor's decision on who is invited to form the government will determine the state's leadership.
Vijay left Lok Bhavan after the meeting, which served as a formal request for the Governor's invitation to lead the administration [1], [2]. The TVK currently holds 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly [1], [3].
To achieve a majority in the 234-seat assembly [4], a party or coalition must secure at least 118 seats [5]. This means the TVK requires an additional two MLAs to reach the necessary threshold to form a stable government [6].
The political atmosphere remains tense as various parties navigate the potential for alliances. A vote of confidence in the Assembly must be held by May 13, 2026 [7].
Reports indicate a scheduled swearing-in for Vijay as Chief Minister on May 9, 2026 [8]. However, the finality of this transition depends on the Governor's formal approval and the TVK's ability to secure the remaining support needed for a majority.
“TVK currently holds 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly”
The situation represents a high-stakes political deadlock where the TVK is only two seats short of a majority. The Governor's role is now pivotal; if he invites Vijay to form the government, the TVK must quickly secure a coalition partner or independent support to survive the mandatory vote of confidence by May 13.
