Kamal Haasan backs Vijay for govt formation, praises Stalin's 'political maturity'
Synopsis
Kamal Haasan's endorsement of Vijay for Tamil Nadu CM is more than a celebrity nod—it's a constitutional argument. By invoking the S.R. Bommai judgment and calling out the delay in oath-taking, Haasan has reframed the impasse as a democratic crisis, not a political squabble. With TVK 10 seats short of majority and a hung assembly, the pressure on the Governor to invite Vijay is mounting.
Key Takeaways
Kamal Haasan publicly backed actor Vijay to form the government in Tamil Nadu on Thursday.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won 108 seats out of 234 , falling 10 short of the 118-seat majority mark.
Haasan invoked the S.R.
Bommai Supreme Court judgment , stating majority must be proven in the legislature, not the Governor's office.
Haasan also praised Chief Minister M K Stalin for accepting the verdict and pledging to function as responsible opposition.
233 elected members remain unable to take oaths, a situation Haasan called "damage to democracy."
Kamal Haasan, the veteran Tamil cinema actor and politician, on Thursday publicly endorsed actor Vijay's claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu, calling it a constitutional imperative after his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded state assembly elections.
In a lengthy post on X, Haasan also commended the political stance of Chief Minister M K Stalin, who announced that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) would respect the people's verdict and function as a responsible opposition despite the fractured mandate.
What Haasan said
Writing in Tamil, Haasan stated: "In the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, the people have not granted any single party the authority to form a government independently. This outcome is unprecedented in the history of Tamil Nadu." He went on to praise Stalin's announcement, saying, "My brother, Mr. @mkstalin has announced, 'We respect the people's verdict; we will function as a responsible opposition'. I respect his political maturity."
The constitutional argument
Haasan invoked the S.R. Bommai Supreme Court judgment, which established that majority must be demonstrated on the floor of the legislature, not in Raj Bhavan (the Governor's residence). He argued that not inviting Vijay to form the government would constitute disrespecting the people's mandate. "This is not a demand, but a reminder of their constitutional obligation," Haasan wrote, emphasizing that his position was rooted in democratic principle rather than partisan politics.
The numbers and the impasse
TVK secured 108 seats out of 234 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, falling 10 seats short of the 118-seat majority threshold. Vijay's party would require external support from at least 10 MLAs to cross the halfway mark. Notably, 233 elected members remain unable to take their oaths, a situation Haasan characterized as "an insult to the state" and "damage to democracy."
A historic verdict
TVK's emergence as the single largest party marks a historic shift in Tamil Nadu politics, where the DMK and AIADMK have alternated power for decades. The fractured mandate reflects voter fragmentation, though TVK's first-time contest performance has elevated Vijay's political standing significantly. The political deadlock underscores the challenge of government formation in a hung assembly.
What comes next
The statement from Haasan, a respected figure across Tamil cinema and politics, carries weight in ongoing discussions about government formation. Whether TVK can secure the required external support, and whether the Governor will invite Vijay to attempt formation, remain open questions as Tamil Nadu awaits clarity on its political future.
Point of View
He has elevated the discourse beyond the usual DMK-AIADMK binary. His praise for Stalin's acceptance of opposition status, coupled with his demand that Vijay be invited, suggests a cross-party consensus forming around democratic norms. The real question is whether the Governor reads the room—or if Tamil Nadu's political establishment will treat this as a celebrity soundbite rather than a democratic marker.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kamal Haasan say about Vijay and government formation?
Kamal Haasan publicly endorsed Vijay's claim to form the government, arguing that not inviting him would disrespect the people's mandate. He invoked the S.R. Bommai Supreme Court judgment, which states that majority must be proven on the floor of the legislature, not in the Governor's residence.
How many seats did Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam win?
TVK won 108 seats out of 234 in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. The majority threshold is 118 seats, meaning Vijay's party needs support from at least 10 additional MLAs to form the government.
Why did Kamal Haasan praise M K Stalin?
Haasan commended Stalin for announcing that the DMK would respect the people's verdict and function as a responsible opposition despite the fractured mandate. Haasan called this a demonstration of political maturity and constitutional responsibility.
What is the S.R. Bommai judgment Haasan cited?
The S.R. Bommai Supreme Court judgment established that a chief minister's majority must be demonstrated on the floor of the legislature, not in the Governor's office (Raj Bhavan). This judgment is often invoked in hung assembly situations to ensure democratic accountability.
Why are 233 elected members unable to take oaths?
The political impasse over government formation has delayed the oath-taking ceremony for elected members. Haasan characterized this delay as an insult to the state and damage to democracy, arguing it must be resolved by inviting the single largest party to attempt government formation.
