Vijay set to become Tamil Nadu CM after Left, VCK support TVK

Chennai: Actor-politician Vijay is set to become the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu after the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam secured the numbers required to form the government on Friday, ending four days of political uncertainty in the state. Vijay met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Friday evening in what was his third meeting with the Governor in three days.

The breakthrough came after the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) extended support to TVK. Though the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which has two MLAs, did not make any official announcement immediately on support to TVK, party chief Thol Thirumavalvan has asserted several times that his party's stand will be in sync with the line taken by the Left parties.

Vijay visited the offices of the CPI and CPM on Friday and thanked the Left leaders for their support to his party to form the government. It was his first visit to the Communist parties' offices.

The Indian National Congress had already announced support for TVK earlier this week after snapping ties with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led alliance. With Congress, CPI, CPM and VCK backing TVK, the party-led bloc’s tally has risen to 119 in the 234-member Assembly, one above the majority mark of 118.

Welcoming the outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin's statement urging Governor Arlekar to immediately take necessary steps to ensure that a new government is formed as per the Constitution, IUML cryptically said its "two MLAs would support the initiatives by the Governor towards the government formation."

The statement by IUML top leader Prof KM Kader Mohideen is seen as a hint that IUML shall, in some ways, "facilitate" government formation.

TVK had won 108 seats in the April 23 Assembly election, while Congress secured five seats and the CPI, CPM and VCK won two seats each. The fractured verdict saw the DMK win 59 seats and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam secure 47. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) won four seats, while the Indian Union Muslim League(IUML), Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP), Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam (AMMK) won one or two seats each.

CPI, CPM, IUML and VCK contested the 2026 polls as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).

DMK waits, rules out AIADMK support
Senior DMK leader T K S Elangovan said earlier in the day that the party would wait until the Governor’s May 10 deadline before considering alternative political options.

“The Governor has given time until the 10th. Only after that can we think of any other plans,” Elangovan told reporters. He also dismissed speculation that the DMK may extend outside support to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

The DMK had sharply criticised Congress for withdrawing from the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and supporting TVK after the election.

In a resolution passed at a meeting chaired by outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin, the DMK accused Congress of “backstabbing” the party despite being allotted 28 seats and a Rajya Sabha berth in the alliance.

“The Congress has done to us in Tamil Nadu what the BJP does in many states,” the resolution said.

Left cites secular politics
CPI general secretary D Raja said the party’s decision was guided by the need to ensure a stable secular government in Tamil Nadu and prevent communal forces from gaining influence in the state. Sources said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had personally spoken to Raja and urged support for TVK. CPM Tamil Nadu secretary P Shanmugam had also strongly backed Vijay’s claim, arguing that the Governor should invite the single largest party to form the government without delay.

Celebrations erupt outside Vijay’s residence
Scenes of celebration erupted outside Vijay’s Neelangarai residence and the Raj Bhavan after news emerged that TVK had crossed the majority mark. Supporters wearing TVK’s signature beige-and-white attire shouted slogans such as “Thalapathy Vaazhga” and “Endrendrum Mudhalvar,” hailing Vijay as Tamil Nadu’s next chief minister.

For the past two days, TVK workers had staged protests outside the Governor’s residence accusing the Raj Bhavan of delaying the formation of government despite TVK emerging as the single largest party.

With the Governor now accepting TVK’s claim, Vijay is expected to take oath as chief minister in the coming days, marking a dramatic rise for the actor-turned-politician in his maiden Assembly election.