Tamil Nadu: TVK MLAs Issue Direct Threat—Will Resign En Masse if DMK and AIADMK Form a Coalition Government

Chennai: Amidst the suspense surrounding government formation in Tamil Nadu, Vijay’s party, the TVK (Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam), has issued a major threat. According to sources, the party has stated that if, under any circumstances, a government comprising the DMK and AIADMK is formed in the state, all TVK MLAs will resign en masse. It is worth noting that Vijay’s party, the TVK, emerged as the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, winning 108 seats. Despite this, the party has not yet received an invitation to form the government. The Governor has sent Vijay back empty-handed on two occasions, asking the TVK chief to demonstrate the support of the 118 MLAs required to prove a majority.

Vijay Has Support of 112 MLAs; Needs 118
Out of the TVK’s total tally of 108 seats, Vijay himself won in two constituencies, one of which he must now vacate. Consequently, the TVK will be left with 107 MLAs. All five MLAs from the Congress party have also pledged their support to him. Thus, he currently commands the support of 112 MLAs. However, to form a government in Tamil Nadu (which has a total of 234 seats), the support of 118 MLAs is required.

Currently, Vijay is holding talks with various regional parties in an effort to form the government. These parties include the VCK (2 MLAs), the Left parties (2 MLAs), among others. Meanwhile, the Muslim League—which holds 2 seats—has stated that no decision has yet been reached regarding whether or not to extend its support to Vijay.

Speculation Surrounding a DMK-AIADMK Alliance
In the interim, reports have surfaced suggesting that the arch-rival parties—Stalin’s DMK and Palaniswami’s AIADMK—might join forces to form the government. If this were to happen, it would come as a major blow to Vijay, given that his party secured the highest number of seats in the recent elections.

Meanwhile, 28 MLAs belonging to Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK party have been accommodated at a private resort in Poorankuppam, Puducherry. It is reported that all these MLAs are currently present at the resort. However, no official statement has been issued regarding why they have been kept there or what the party’s future strategy will be. Nevertheless, it is believed that these are the legislators who might even quit the party to extend their support to Vijay.

On the other hand, the DMK has instructed all its legislators to remain in Chennai until May 10. It has been stated that a major decision regarding the party’s interests is imminent.

However, Stalin also attempted to put an end to the speculation surrounding a potential alliance. He declared that the DMK would not move a no-confidence motion for six months, arguing that the mandate for change delivered by the public should be given a fair opportunity. Yet, experts believe that by taking this stance, Stalin aims to deny Vijay the opportunity to further elevate his stature in the public eye; were the DMK to engage in political maneuvering or pressure tactics before a government is even formed, Vijay could potentially portray himself as a hero fighting against the system.

Meanwhile, according to sources at the Tamil Nadu Public Works Department (PWD) complex, the Governor has assured Vijay that he will not extend an invitation to form the government to any other party. However, the TVK must submit a letter substantiating its numerical strength—complete with the signatures of the supporting legislators—before the swearing-in ceremony can take place. This development has sparked a major debate, raising the question: if Vijay’s party is the single largest entity, why is it not being invited to form the government?

What Does the Constitution Say About This Dispute?
According to Article 164 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor appoints the Chief Minister. However, the Constitution does not provide a specific formula or explicit guidelines regarding who should be invited to assume this office; the decision falls entirely within the Governor’s discretionary powers. This is precisely why the Governor’s role becomes particularly pivotal in such situations.

According to constitutional experts, the Governor’s primary duty is to ensure that whoever is appointed as Chief Minister is capable of proving their majority on the floor of the House. The objective is to avoid a scenario where the Governor extends an invitation to a party—even if it happens to be the single largest party—only for that party to subsequently fail to demonstrate its majority.