VCK backs TVK government bid, seeks Deputy CM post for Thirumavalavan
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu's hung assembly drama deepens as VCK signals it will back Vijay's TVK government — but at a price. Party leaders are demanding the Deputy CM post for Thirumavalavan and Cabinet seats, while insisting on Dalit protection laws and anti-honour killing legislation as non-negotiable conditions.
Key Takeaways
VCK held a high-level video conference on 8 May , with over 20 senior functionaries indicating broad support for a TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu.
TVK won 108 seats in the April 23 elections but needs 118 for a majority in the 234-member Assembly .
VCK senior leader Ravikumar reportedly insisted on the Deputy CM post for party president Thol.
Thirumavalavan as a condition of support.
Congress , CPI , and CPI-M have already announced outside support to a TVK-led government.
VCK leaders also demanded a special law against honour killings and strong Dalit protection measures from the proposed government.
VCK deputy general secretary Vanni Arasu posted on X : "This is the time for Thiruma's era, let us rise higher and higher."
The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on Friday, 8 May held a high-level committee meeting via video conference and indicated broad support for a government led by actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu, amid continuing political uncertainty following the fractured Assembly election verdict. Senior VCK leaders made clear that their backing would come with a significant condition — the post of Deputy Chief Minister for party president Thol. Thirumavalavan.
Background: A Hung Assembly in Tamil Nadu
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single largest party in the April 23 Assembly elections, winning 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly. However, the party has been unable to cross the majority mark of 118 seats on its own, triggering a scramble for post-poll alliances. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance's constituents have become the primary target for outreach as TVK attempts to cobble together a working majority.
Who Has Extended Support So Far
The Indian National Congress (Congress), which parted ways with the DMK alliance after the elections, was the first major party to extend outside support to Vijay's party. The Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) followed, announcing outside support to a TVK-led government while making clear they would not join the Cabinet. The VCK meeting on Friday marked the next critical step in that coalition-building effort.
What the VCK Meeting Decided
More than 20 senior functionaries participated in Friday evening's video conference. According to party sources, a majority of executives expressed support for backing TVK's government formation bid. Senior VCK leader Ravikumar reportedly insisted that party president Thirumavalavan must be offered the Deputy Chief Minister's post as a condition of any formal support arrangement. Several other leaders echoed this demand, arguing that VCK must also receive adequate Cabinet representation. Some executives additionally suggested that VCK deputy general secretary Vanni Arasu should be accommodated in the ministry.
Key Conditions and Demands
Beyond ministerial positions, party leaders stressed that the proposed TVK government must prioritise Dalit protection, enact a special law against honour killings, and take an uncompromising stand against communal forces. The meeting also reportedly discussed Thirumavalavan's future electoral role, with some members suggesting he contest from the Tiruchy East Assembly constituency. Meanwhile, VCK deputy general secretary Vanni Arasu posted a message on social media platform X, stating:
Point of View
Not after. The conditions around Dalit protection and honour killing legislation are not merely rhetorical; they reflect the VCK's core constituency and its need to demonstrate tangible returns for backing a film star-turned-politician with no prior governance record. The deeper question is whether Vijay's TVK, still finding its administrative footing, can accommodate identity-driven demands without alienating the broader coalition it is assembling. Tamil Nadu's post-poll arithmetic is beginning to look less like a mandate and more like a negotiation.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VCK's position on supporting the TVK government in Tamil Nadu?
The VCK indicated broad support for a TVK-led government at its high-level committee meeting on 8 May, but has set conditions including the Deputy CM post for party president Thirumavalavan and adequate Cabinet representation. The party has not yet formally announced its support.
Why is TVK struggling to form a government in Tamil Nadu?
TVK won 108 seats in the April 23 Assembly elections, making it the single largest party, but falls short of the 118-seat majority mark in the 234-member Assembly. It is reaching out to former DMK alliance partners and other parties to bridge the gap.
Which parties have already extended support to TVK?
Congress, CPI, and CPI-M have all announced outside support to a TVK-led government, though none of them plan to join the Cabinet. VCK's formal support, if confirmed, would bring TVK closer to a working majority.
What conditions has VCK set for supporting the TVK government?
VCK leaders have demanded the Deputy CM post for Thirumavalavan, Cabinet berths for the party including for deputy general secretary Vanni Arasu, a special law against honour killings, strong Dalit protection measures, and a firm stance against communal forces.
What did VCK's Vanni Arasu post on X about the Tamil Nadu government formation?
Vanni Arasu posted on social media platform X: 'This is the time for Thiruma's era, let us rise higher and higher,' fuelling speculation about VCK's imminent formal support for the TVK-led government formation effort.
