TVK approaches CPI, Congress for support as Vijay bids to form TN govt
Synopsis
Actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK won 108 seats but still needs 10 more to hit the majority mark of 117 — and the Governor won't invite him until he can prove the numbers. With the CPI meeting on 8 May and Congress reportedly leaning in, the next 48 hours could determine who governs Tamil Nadu.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay has formally written to the CPI , Congress , and CPI(M) seeking support to form the Tamil Nadu government.
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly ; effective strength may drop to 107 after Vijay vacates one constituency.
With House strength at 233 , the majority mark stands at 117 — leaving TVK short by at least 10 seats .
CPI (2 seats) will deliberate at its executive committee on 8 May ; an emergency State committee meeting may follow on 9 May .
Sources say Congress (5 seats) has internally decided to back TVK; a formal announcement is still pending.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has asked TVK to demonstrate numerical support before extending a formal invitation to govern.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President C. Joseph Vijay has intensified alliance-building efforts in Tamil Nadu after his party emerged as the single largest formation in the state Assembly elections, winning 108 seats in the 234-member House. The TVK has formally written to the Communist Party of India (CPI), seeking its support to form the next government — a move that signals the party is still short of a clear majority and is racing to stitch together a coalition.
CPI Deliberation Underway
CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian confirmed that the party received a letter from Vijay late on Tuesday night requesting the CPI's legislative backing. The CPI, which won two seats in the Assembly election, will deliberate on the request at its executive committee meeting scheduled for 8 May. Veerapandian added that an emergency State committee meeting could be convened on 9 May if required to arrive at a final decision.
Congress and CPI(M) Also Approached
The TVK has simultaneously reached out to the Indian National Congress (Congress) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) — CPI(M), both constituents of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). Congress secured five seats in the elections, while CPI(M) won two. Sources indicated that the Congress leadership has internally decided to extend support to the TVK, though an official announcement is still awaited.
The Majority Math
The arithmetic of the House makes coalition-building critical for Vijay. Though the TVK won 108 seats, the effective party strength is expected to reduce to 107 after Vijay vacates one of the two constituencies from which he was elected — Perambur and Tiruchi East. With the House strength thereby falling to 233, the majority mark would stand at 117, leaving the TVK short by at least 10 legislators.
Multiple Channels of Outreach
Political sources said the TVK has opened communication with parties and legislators from both the DMK-led alliance and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) camp in a bid to shore up numbers. The party has also submitted a formal letter to Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, asserting its claim to form the government as the single largest party with a vote share of 34.92 per cent. However, sources indicated that the Governor has asked the TVK leadership to demonstrate the required numerical support before any formal invitation to form the government is extended. The coming days will be decisive in determining whether Vijay can translate his electoral plurality into a governing majority.
Point of View
And the Governor's insistence on a demonstrated floor count before extending an invitation is constitutionally sound. The real test is whether the SPA's smaller constituents — CPI, CPI(M), and Congress — will peel away from the DMK orbit to back a rival formation, or use their leverage to extract concessions. Notably, the AIADMK flank is also reportedly being sounded out, which suggests the TVK's internal confidence about SPA support may not be as firm as public statements imply. Tamil Nadu is entering a phase of post-election dealmaking that could redefine its party alignments for years.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does TVK need support despite winning the most seats in Tamil Nadu?
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, but the majority mark is 117 — meaning the party is at least 10 seats short of forming a government on its own. The effective strength may also drop to 107 after Vijay vacates one of the two seats he won.
What is the CPI's position on supporting TVK?
CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian confirmed the party received a letter from Vijay on Tuesday night. The CPI will discuss the request at its executive committee meeting on 8 May, with a possible emergency State committee meeting on 9 May for a final decision. The CPI holds two Assembly seats.
Has Congress agreed to support TVK in Tamil Nadu?
Sources indicate that the Congress leadership has internally decided to extend support to TVK, though no official announcement has been made. Congress won five seats in the Assembly elections.
What has Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said about government formation?
According to sources, Governor Arlekar has asked the TVK leadership to demonstrate the required numerical support — 117 MLAs — before any formal invitation to form the government is extended.
Which constituencies did Vijay contest and why does it affect the seat count?
Vijay was elected from both Perambur and Tiruchi East. He is expected to resign from one, reducing TVK's effective strength from 108 to 107 and the total House strength from 234 to 233, which sets the majority mark at 117.
