AICC hands TVK support decision to TN unit after Vijay seeks backing
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu's political calculus has shifted dramatically: TVK, a party that didn't exist a few years ago, won 108 seats in its debut election and is now lobbying Congress for support to form the government. The AICC has punted the decision to its Tamil Nadu unit — making the TNCC a kingmaker in a state where the DMK and AIADMK have long called the shots.
Key Takeaways
AICC has authorised the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) to take the final call on supporting TVK in government formation.
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly — the single largest party but 10 seats short of the majority mark of 118 .
Congress General Secretary K.C.
Venugopal said the party will not allow BJP or its "proxies" any role in the next Tamil Nadu government.
Vijay reportedly invoked the legacy of K.
Kamaraj in his appeal to Congress leadership.
TNCC is expected to consult senior leaders and newly elected MLAs before deciding.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, said it has delegated the final decision on extending support to C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to its Tamil Nadu unit, following a formal request from the actor-turned-politician seeking Congress backing to form the next state government. The move comes after a fractured mandate in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where TVK emerged as the single largest party but fell short of a majority.
Congress's Stated Position
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal clarified the party's stance, stating that the electoral verdict in Tamil Nadu reflects a clear mandate for a secular government committed to upholding the Constitution. He stressed that the Congress is determined not to allow the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its alleged "proxies" to play any role in the formation or functioning of the next state government.
"The sentiments of the people, as reflected in the electoral verdict, will guide the decision," Venugopal said, confirming that the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) has been formally authorised to take a final call on Vijay's request.
TVK's Assembly Tally and the Numbers Game
TVK won a spectacular 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, making it the single largest party but leaving it 10 seats short of the majority mark of 118. The party's debut performance has dramatically altered a political landscape long dominated by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Vijay's rise, powered by strong support among youth and urban voters, has repositioned Tamil Nadu politics and made the TVK a central actor in post-poll alliance negotiations. The party is now actively reaching out to potential partners to secure the numbers needed to stake a claim to power.
The Kamaraj Invocation
In his outreach to the Congress leadership, Vijay is learnt to have invoked the legacy of K. Kamaraj — popularly known as "Perunthalaivar" — highlighting a governance model rooted in integrity, simplicity, and pro-people policies. The appeal to Kamaraj's legacy is seen as a deliberate effort to build ideological common ground with the Congress, for whom Kamaraj remains a towering historical figure in Tamil Nadu.
What Happens Next
Sources indicated that the TNCC is likely to consult senior leaders and newly elected MLAs before arriving at a final decision. Given that Congress holds a potentially decisive bloc of seats, its stance is widely seen as crucial in determining whether TVK can garner sufficient support to form a government. This is the first time in decades that a new political entrant has forced both the DMK and the AIADMK into secondary roles in Tamil Nadu's government formation process. The coming days are expected to be critical as alliance arithmetic takes shape in Chennai.
Point of View
And Congress would effectively be staking its Tamil Nadu credibility on a debut party. The real question is what Congress extracts in return — cabinet berths, portfolio weight, or a formal alliance framework — because a support-without-conditions arrangement rarely ends well for the smaller partner. For the DMK and AIADMK, this outcome represents an unprecedented structural disruption, one that neither party has a clear playbook for.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the AICC decided about supporting TVK in Tamil Nadu?
The AICC has delegated the final decision on extending support to TVK to the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), following a formal request from TVK leader C. Joseph Vijay. The national party has not committed either way, leaving the call to its state unit.
How many seats did TVK win in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections?
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, making it the single largest party. However, it is 10 seats short of the majority mark of 118 needed to form a government on its own.
Why is Congress's support crucial for TVK?
TVK needs at least 118 seats to form a majority government but currently holds 108. Congress's support — depending on how many seats it won — could provide the decisive margin needed for TVK to stake a claim to power in Tamil Nadu.
What did Congress say about the BJP's role in Tamil Nadu's government formation?
Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal stated that the party is determined not to allow the BJP or its alleged 'proxies' any role in the formation or functioning of the next Tamil Nadu government, framing the decision around a secular mandate.
Why did Vijay invoke K. Kamaraj in his appeal to Congress?
Vijay reportedly invoked the legacy of K. Kamaraj — a towering Congress figure in Tamil Nadu's history known as 'Perunthalaivar' — to build ideological common ground with the Congress leadership, emphasising governance values of integrity, simplicity, and pro-people policies.
