Vijay under pressure, DMK-AIADMK scramble to stop TVK from forming govt: Tamil Nadu post-poll chaos explained in 10 points | India News

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Four days after giving a historic mandate to end the 49-year dualism of DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu politics, Vijay’s TV is still channeling itself. The party won a historic 108 seats, just short of a majority of 118 seats. However, new entrant Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam, despite its newfound ties with longtime DMK ally Congress, still found itself six seats short of a majority.Interestingly, the two traditional Dravidian parties (DMK and AIADMK) who have been rivals for a long time are also eyeing an alliance and mustering allies to partner themselves and prevent Vijay from forming the government.

Now, four days after the poll results, Tamil Nadu finds itself at the center of intense political discussions, coalition shifts, grievances, resort politics and government formation battles.

Here is Tamil Nadu Post-vote drama Explained in 10 points:

• Vijay’s Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu, winning 108 seats in the 234-member assembly. DMK got 59 seats, while AIADMK got 47 seats. Power in Tamil Nadu has traditionally shifted between the DMK and the AIADMK for decades.
• Despite emerging as the largest party, TVK failed to cross the majority mark of 118 seats. The party initially fell short by 10 seats, creating uncertainty over government formation. The situation becomes more complicated as Vijay is expected to vacate one of the two seats he won, reducing TVK’s effective strength from 108 to 107.
• Governor of Tamil Nadu Rajendra Vishwanath invited Arlekar Vijay to the Lok Bhavan but did not immediately ask him to form the government. According to ANI sources, the governor sought clarity on the “magic number” required to form the government and asked Vijay to give details of the legislators supporting TVK’s demand to form the government.
• Congress extended its support to TVK with five MLAs, taking the alliance’s tally to 113. The move became politically significant as the Congress backed Vijay without standing with its long-time ally the DMK, causing tension among the secular progressive alliance, with the DMK calling the Congress a “backstabber”.
• TVK has intensified efforts to garner support from smaller parties including PMK, Left parties, CPM and VCK. Even with the support of the Congress, TVK’s effective strength was expected to stand at 112 after Vijay vacated one seat, still five short of the majority figure of 118.
• Several leaders, including VCK leader Thal Thirumabhavan and leaders of Left parties, accused Governor Arlekar of acting under pressure from the BJP-led central government to delay or complicate the constitutional process. Many parties argued that Vijay should have been allowed to prove his majority in the assembly through a floor test.
• At the same time, Stalin is said to have held talks with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, CPI and CPM leaders, whose combined six MLAs could become crucial in the numbers game.
• The rise of TVK led to an unexpected rapprochement between arch-rivals DMK and AIADMK. Chief Minister MK Stalin informed the DMK MLAs that the AIADMK had sought support to form the government and barred Vijay from becoming the Chief Minister. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami was also expected to seek an appointment with Governor Arlekar amid political uncertainty.
• TVK is said to have started discussions with a section of AIADMK legislators on a possible power-sharing arrangement. According to ANI sources, 28 AIADMK MLAs supporting senior leader CV Shanmugam were shifted to a private resort in Puducherry, fueling speculation that sections within the AIADMK were considering supporting TVK.
• Sources claimed that the talks included a possible deputy chief minister’s post and CV Shanmugam’s key ministerial portfolio. However, the AIADMK itself has appeared divided, with party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami reportedly unwilling to support TV.

Meanwhile, TVK also shifted its own MLAs to a luxury resort in Mamallapuram, where more than 50 MLAs were under tight police security as the party continued to discuss its post-poll strategy.