Chennai, May 8 — Uncertainty deepened on Thursday over the formation of a new government in Tamil Nadu after actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, chief of Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), met the Governor and again staked a claim to form the government, even as the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) denied having provided a letter of support.
Competing claims, unclear numbers
TVK leaders had indicated earlier that a swearing-in ceremony was to be held, but reports on Thursday suggested that the ceremony scheduled for Friday may not take place. The latest development follows a flurry of approaches by regional parties and lone legislators to the Raj Bhavan in recent days, creating a fluid situation over which coalition can command majority numbers in the Assembly.
The IUML, led by Prof. Khader Mohideen, issued a statement rejecting reports that it had extended support to TVK. According to the party release, the IUML instead expressed support for the DMK chief M.K. Stalin's view that the Governor should facilitate the swearing-in of a new government.
"The Party said that it supports the formation of a new Government as DMK Chief M.K. Stalin desired that the Governor should take steps to facilitate the swearing in of a new Government."
TVK outreach and other developments
TVK leaders had reportedly approached the IUML twice seeking backing. Separately, reports indicated that the VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) would provide a letter of support, and one VCK MLA, Vanni Arasu, tweeted that the party would participate in the government — a development the party leadership said would be formalised by presentation of the support letter.
In a further twist, AMMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran met the Governor and submitted a letter of support from S. Kamaraj, the lone MLA elected from Mannarkudi, proposing Edappadi K. Palaniswami — the AIADMK general secretary — as Chief Minister. The AIADMK camp has not formally confirmed acceptance of that proposal in public statements available so far.
Why the situation remains unsettled
With multiple parties and individual legislators signalling differing positions, the arithmetic in the Assembly remains unclear in public reports. The Governor's office has so far not issued a detailed public account of the meetings or of any decision to invite a particular leader to form a government.
Legal and constitutional points are likely to be considered if rival claimants present contested majorities. The Governor may seek evidence of numbers in writing, such as letters of support from recognised parties or signed statements from MLAs, before taking a decision on swearing-in.
What to watch next
- Whether the Governor issues a formal invitation to any leader to prove majority in the Assembly.
- Submission and verification of written letters of support from parties such as VCK, IUML or others.
- Any confirmation or postponement of the reported swearing-in ceremony.
At present, the political situation remains in flux and dependent on the resolution of support claims by regional parties and individual legislators. Officials and party spokespeople are expected to make further announcements in the coming hours that will clarify which leader, if any, will be invited to form the government.
| Party / Person | Reported position (as of May 8) |
|---|---|
| TVK (C. Joseph Vijay) | Staked claim to form government; met Governor |
| IUML (Prof. Khader Mohideen) | Denied having given support to TVK; urged Governor to facilitate swearing-in |
| VCK | Reportedly to provide letter of support; a VCK MLA indicated party participation |
| AMMK / T.T.V. Dhinakaran | Submitted a letter from S. Kamaraj backing Edappadi K. Palaniswami for CM |
Further authoritative confirmation from the Governor's office or from party leaderships will be necessary to establish which coalition, if any, has secured the numbers to form the next government. The situation will be closely monitored across the state for any official communications or scheduling of swearing-in proceedings.
Selvan Murugesan is the Tamil Nadu correspondent in Chennai.
