Vijay Set to Become Tamil Nadu CM as TVK Secures Support of 120 MLAs

Chennai, May 2026 : Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay moved a step closer to becoming the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Saturday after his party secured the backing of 120 MLAs, comfortably crossing the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly.

The latest support for the Vijay-led formation came from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which formally announced its decision to back the TVK government. IUML legislative party leader SSB Syed Farook Basha and deputy leader A.M. Shahjahan submitted a signed letter of support to Governor-in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, expressing the party’s support for the TVK-led alliance.

Earlier in the day, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) had also extended support to TVK, significantly strengthening Vijay’s position in the race to form the next government.

According to the latest political arithmetic, TVK now enjoys the support of 120 legislators. This includes 107 MLAs from TVK, five from the Congress, two each from the CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML.

Tamil Nadu Assembly elections for all 234 constituencies were held in a single phase on April 23. The polls witnessed an intense four-cornered contest involving the DMK, AIADMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and TVK.

When the results were declared on May 4, TVK emerged as the single-largest party by winning 108 seats. However, after Vijay chose to retain only one of the two constituencies from which he was elected, the party’s effective strength in the Assembly came down to 107.

Following the fractured mandate, political activity intensified across Chennai as parties explored possible alliances and support arrangements. TVK immediately initiated discussions with several opposition parties and independent legislators to secure the numbers needed to form the government.

The CPI and CPI(M) were among the earliest parties to publicly support Vijay’s leadership, followed by the Congress. With VCK and IUML now formally joining the alliance, the TVK-led bloc has comfortably crossed the halfway mark of 118 seats required to form the government.

Sources indicated that Vijay sought an urgent appointment with Governor Arlekar ahead of the latter’s scheduled departure to Kerala. During the meeting, the TVK leadership is expected to formally stake claim to form the government and submit letters of support from allied parties.

Meanwhile, celebrations broke out among TVK cadres across Tamil Nadu after the announcement of support from VCK and IUML. Party workers gathered at various locations, bursting crackers and distributing sweets as confidence grew over Vijay’s imminent elevation to the Chief Minister’s post.

TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna later told reporters that Vijay would soon take oath as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, marking a major political milestone for the actor-turned-politician and his relatively new party.