Vijay Steps Up Outreach as TVK Races to Secure Numbers for Tamil Nadu Government

Chennai, May 2026 : With government formation entering a decisive phase in Tamil Nadu, C. Joseph Vijay has intensified efforts to gather legislative support after his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest formation in the Assembly elections.

The TVK secured 108 seats in the 234-member House, falling short of the majority mark but positioning itself strongly to stake claim to power. As part of its outreach strategy, the party has formally approached the Communist Party of India (CPI), a constituent of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, seeking support for government formation.

CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian confirmed that the party received a letter from Vijay late Tuesday night requesting backing. He said the CPI would discuss the proposal at its executive committee meeting scheduled for May 8, and may convene an emergency State committee meeting thereafter if required. The CPI currently holds two seats in the Assembly.

The TVK has also initiated discussions with other alliance partners, including the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist). While Congress has five MLAs and CPI(M) has two, sources suggest that Congress is inclined to support Vijay, though a formal announcement is yet to be made.

The numbers game remains tight. Vijay’s party strength is expected to drop to 107 once he vacates one of the two constituencies he won—Perambur or Tiruchi East. This will bring the effective strength of the House down to 233, lowering the majority mark to 117. As a result, the TVK will need the support of at least 10 additional legislators to secure a comfortable majority.

Political observers say the TVK is keeping all options open and has initiated backchannel communications with leaders across both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) camp. The aim is to build a viable coalition ahead of the crucial floor test.

Meanwhile, the TVK has formally staked its claim to form the government by submitting a letter to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, citing its position as the single largest party with a vote share of 34.92 per cent.

However, sources indicate that the Governor has asked the party to demonstrate clear numerical support before extending a formal invitation to form the government. This has added urgency to Vijay’s outreach efforts as he works to secure the backing required to take office.

As negotiations intensify, the coming days are expected to be decisive in determining whether TVK can successfully translate its electoral gains into political power in Tamil Nadu.