Vijay's TVK forms Tamil Nadu government with VCK support

The political landscape of Tamil Nadu has witnessed a dramatic shift following the 2026 Assembly elections, with actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay's newly formed party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), poised to form the next government. The elections, held on April 23, 2026, with results declared on May 4, 2026, saw TVK emerge as the single largest party, securing 108 out of the 234 assembly seats. This unprecedented debut marks a significant moment in the state's political history, traditionally dominated by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). However, despite its impressive performance, TVK fell short of the simple majority mark of 118 seats by 10 legislators, leading to a period of intense political negotiations and suspense over government formation. The incumbent DMK, led by M.K. Stalin, lost power, with Stalin himself reportedly losing his seat. This outcome necessitated TVK to seek support from other parties to cross the crucial halfway mark. Key to resolving the political deadlock was the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a prominent Dalit political party in Tamil Nadu. The original Hindustan Times article and related news reports highlight that "all eyes" were on VCK, as its decision was pivotal for Vijay's government formation. On May 9, 2026, VCK officially extended its support to the TVK-led alliance. VCK, which secured two seats in the recent elections, had previously been part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) but chose to back TVK to ensure government stability. In addition to VCK, other parties also pledged their support to TVK. The Indian National Congress (INC), with 5 seats, was among the first to offer conditional support, emphasizing the need for a secular government. Both the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), each having won 2 seats, also extended their support, with CPI(M) stating it would remain outside the cabinet to avoid prolonged uncertainty and a potential "backdoor entry" of the BJP. With the collective support of VCK (2 seats), INC (5 seats), CPI (2 seats), and CPI(M) (2 seats), the TVK-led alliance now commands a total of 119 seats (108 TVK + 5 INC + 2 CPI + 2 CPI(M) + 2 VCK), comfortably surpassing the 118-seat majority requirement. Amidst these developments, Vijay has held multiple meetings with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to formally stake his claim to form the government. The Governor had initially sought proof of majority support, leading to some protests by TVK and Congress cadres, but with VCK's official backing, the path for Vijay to become the Chief Minister is now clear. The swearing-in ceremony, initially speculated for May 7 and then May 8, is now anticipated to take place shortly, possibly on May 9, 2026, marking the formal assumption of power by the TVK-led coalition. Vijay's entry into politics has been a gradual process. He founded his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), on February 2, 2024, expressing his intent to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections. His fan club, Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (VMI), which had been active in social welfare activities since 2009, laid the groundwork for his political foray, even winning 115 out of 169 seats contested in the 2021 local body elections. Vijay officially retired from films to focus entirely on his political career, campaigning on a platform of secularism, social justice, and corruption-free governance. His victory is seen as a disruption of the long-standing Dravidian political duopoly in Tamil Nadu, establishing TVK as a significant alternative force. The Hindustan Times article's "LIVE" updates accurately reflect the rapidly unfolding and significant political events in Tamil Nadu as of May 9, 2026.

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