Tamil Nadu: Vijay’s Swearing-in Postponed Again; Leader of Two-MLA Party Throws a Curveball—Find Out Why…

New Delhi: Friday evening brought a sudden twist to the politics of Tamil Nadu—one that abruptly shrouded the entire power equation in mystery and suspense. The picture, which had appeared almost crystal clear throughout the day for actor Vijay’s party, the TVK, began to blur as night fell. Since early morning, an atmosphere of celebration had prevailed within the TVK camp. Party leaders and supporters were confident that, with the backing of the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and potentially the VCK and IUML, they had successfully crossed the majority threshold. Firecrackers were bursting outside Vijay’s residence in Panaiyur, and party workers were openly discussing a swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Saturday morning. However, as the evening progressed, the political arithmetic began to falter.

The real snag emerged regarding VCK chief Thirumavalavan. He had publicly stated that his party would align with the decision of the Left parties; yet, by late Friday night, he had still not submitted a formal letter of support to Governor Rajendra Arlekar. Consequently—and technically speaking—Vijay’s party fell short of the required majority. According to sources within the Governor’s office, during a meeting held on Friday evening, Vijay could officially demonstrate the support of only 116 MLAs. This meant he remained short of the “magic figure” required for a majority. This very delay unleashed a storm of rumors within political circles.

Tamil Nadu Politics Resembles a ‘Political Thriller’
Reports began trickling in from Tamil Nadu’s political corridors suggesting that Thirumavalavan was engaged in continuous, separate rounds of meetings with representatives from the TVK, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), and leaders of the DMK. Intriguingly, despite reiterating to the media that he stood in solidarity with the Left parties, he refrained from announcing any final decision well into the late hours of the night. Instead, they proceeded directly to the residence of Acting Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, where discussions continued until past 10:00 PM. Following this, Tamil Nadu politics began to resemble a political thriller.

Thirumavalavan on the Path of Madhu Singh Koda!
Speculation intensified within certain circles associated with the VCK that EPS and Stalin were jointly exploring a formula wherein Thirumavalavan himself could emerge as a consensus candidate for the Chief Minister’s post. Meanwhile, another minor yet significant development further complicated the entire political equation. NDA ally and AMMK chief T.T.V. Dhinakaran arrived to meet the Governor shortly after 9:00 PM. He alleged that Vijay’s party, the TVK, was attempting to poach his legislator. Dhinakaran claimed that his party’s sole elected MLA, Kamaraj, had gone ‘missing.’ Dhinakaran stated, “My MLA is not answering his phone. It is possible that he has been detained or that his phone has been confiscated. Kamaraj is missing. I have demanded an immediate inquiry from the Governor.”

Dhinakaran Claims Before Governor: The Letter is Forged
An open war of words has now erupted in Tamil Nadu between actor Vijay’s party—the Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)—and T.T.V. Dhinakaran. The root of the dispute lies in a letter purportedly written by the newly elected AMMK MLA, Kamaraj S., in which he pledged his support to Vijay’s party. However, AMMK chief Dhinakaran asserted that the letter is a forgery and that his party has not extended any form of support to the TVK. On Friday, he met with Governor Rajendra Arlekar to present his side of the story, affirming that his MLA, Kamaraj, remains firmly aligned with the NDA and the AIADMK alliance. Dhinakaran also clarified that his party’s support for the Chief Minister’s post lies with Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

TVK Dismisses Dhinakaran’s Allegations; Releases Video
On the other hand, Vijay’s party, the TVK, categorically rejected Dhinakaran’s allegations. Releasing a video, the party claimed that Kamaraj had voluntarily and happily penned the letter of support, doing so only after obtaining Dinakaran’s approval. The TVK alleged that misinformation is being disseminated by concealing the truth. In a statement, the TVK asserted that the party has no need to ‘bargain’ with anyone. The party maintains that the public has bestowed upon them a massive mandate, and the process of garnering support to form the government is proceeding in a democratic manner.

Is Tamil Nadu Politics Entangled in Political Arithmetic?
In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the TVK has pulled off a major upset by winning 108 seats; however, it still falls short of the majority mark of 118. Consequently, the party is currently engaged in the effort to secure the support of smaller parties and independent legislators. The Congress has signaled its support, bringing its five MLAs to the table, while the CPI and CPI(M) have also indicated a stance in favor of a government led by Vijay. This development appears to pose a challenge to the long-standing traditional political landscape of the state, which has historically been dominated by the rivalry between the DMK and the AIADMK.