C. Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) became the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly following the May 2024 elections [1].
The result creates a hung assembly, a rare occurrence in the state's political history that forces the leading party to negotiate coalitions to secure a stable administration [3].
TVK secured 108 seats in the 234-seat assembly [1, 3]. While this makes the party the most successful individual entity in the election, it falls short of the 118-seat majority required to govern independently [2].
Vijay, the actor-politician and president of TVK, said that his party will write to the Governor to seek an invitation to form the government. He said the party will prove its majority within two weeks [2].
The political landscape has shifted following the loss of M.K. Stalin. Rahul Gandhi of the Indian National Congress signaled a potential for cooperation, saying, "Congratulations Vijay, looking forward to working together for Tamil Nadu's development" [2].
To reach the 118-seat threshold [2], Vijay must now navigate alliances with other key players, including the DMK and AIADMK. The TVK is currently 10 seats away from a majority [1, 2].
Analysis from The News Minute said that Tamil Nadu has never witnessed a hung assembly and that this event marks a new political landscape [1].
“"We will write to the Governor and seek an invitation to form the government"”
The emergence of TVK as a dominant force disrupts the traditional bipolarity of Tamil Nadu politics, which has long been contested primarily by the DMK and AIADMK. Because no single party reached the 118-seat mark, the state's governance now depends on the ability of a cinema-led political movement to forge a viable coalition with established national or regional parties.
