TVK Stakes Claim to Form Government in Tamil Nadu After Emergence as Single Largest Party

Chennai, May 2026 : With the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerging as the single-largest party in the recently concluded Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, party president C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday formally staked claim to form the government in the state.

In a formal communication sent to the Governor at Raj Bhavan (now Lok Bhavan), Vijay requested an appointment with Governor Rajendra Arlekar and sought permission to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly. He stated that TVK, having emerged as the largest party in the House, deserves the opportunity to form the next government.

According to the letter, TVK has secured 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, making it the single-largest party in numerical strength. Vijay asserted that this mandate reflects the will of the people and strengthens the party’s claim to be invited to form the government.

“We are the single largest party with 108 legislators and have the right to form the government. We request an opportunity to demonstrate our majority on the floor of the House,” he said in his communication.

The majority mark in the Tamil Nadu Assembly is 118 seats, meaning TVK is currently short by 10 seats. Despite falling short of an absolute majority, the party has expressed confidence in securing additional support from smaller regional outfits and independent MLAs in the coming days.

Vijay has also sought a period of up to 15 days to consolidate support and prove his majority in the Assembly. Political observers note that this request aligns with constitutional practice, where parties without a clear majority are given time to demonstrate legislative strength.

Sources in Raj Bhavan indicated that the Governor is likely to respond positively and may invite Vijay to take the next step in government formation shortly. It is expected that he will be given a window of 7 to 15 days to prove his majority on the Assembly floor, following established constitutional conventions.

Meanwhile, internal processes within TVK have gained momentum. Vijay is scheduled to be formally elected as the Leader of the Legislature Party in a meeting of newly elected MLAs at the party headquarters in Panaiyur. This step is seen as essential for completing procedural formalities before staking a formal claim to power.

The rapid rise of TVK has significantly altered the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, traditionally dominated by established Dravidian parties. The current developments signal the beginning of intense political negotiations, as the party moves closer to forming its first government in the state.