Vijay to be sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM; coalition government formed

The political landscape of Tamil Nadu is set for a significant shift with actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay poised to be sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 10, 2026. His party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has successfully cobbled together a coalition government, marking an end to days of intense political negotiations and uncertainty following the recent assembly election results. The TVK emerged as the single largest party in the 234-member assembly, securing 108 seats, but fell short of the 118-seat majority mark. The crucial breakthrough in government formation came with the unconditional support extended by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) to the TVK. Previously, the Congress, which won five seats, had already pledged its support to TVK, breaking its long-standing alliance with the DMK. The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) also extended their support, with the Left parties emphasizing the need for a stable and democratic government. With the backing of these parties, the TVK-led alliance reached a total of 120 MLAs-elect, comfortably surpassing the majority threshold of 118 seats. Vijay met with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar multiple times over several days to stake his claim to form the government. The Governor, after receiving confirmation of the majority support, appointed Vijay as the Chief Minister-designate. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Reports also indicate that a vote of confidence in the Assembly will be held by May 13, 2026. This electoral outcome represents a historic break from Tamil Nadu's political tradition, which has been dominated for decades by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Vijay's electoral debut has disrupted this long-standing political duopoly, presenting him as a significant alternative to the established parties. The DMK, which was the ruling party, finds itself in a politically isolated position, having lost its key allies to the TVK-led coalition. There were some reports of challenges and claims of forged documents by the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) regarding support letters. However, these were overcome with the official confirmation of support from VCK and IUML, solidifying Vijay's position. The Congress's decision to support TVK was framed as a move to prevent 'communal forces' from gaining power, and to honor the mandate. The political developments have garnered national attention, with expectations of prominent leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, attending the swearing-in ceremony. The formation of the TVK government signifies a new era in Tamil Nadu politics, moving away from the traditional Dravidian parties' hold.

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