The government formation puzzle in Tamil Nadu has become more complex. Sources in All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) informally indicate the party’s willingness to support the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), according to sources.
This development comes even as the Indian National Congress (INC) confirmed that TVK had approached it for support, leaving the final decision to its State unit. However, even with Congress’s backing, TVK would still fall short of a comfortable majority and require additional legislators.
TVK falls short of majority, explores alliance options
The TVK scored an emphatic victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. With 108 seats, C Joseph Vijay’s TVK is 10 short of the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly. The INC (5 seats), along with potential backing from Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (1) and the Left parties (4 combined), can comfortably bridge that gap to take the tally to 118.
To bridge the gap, TVK may have to reach out to smaller parties such as the Left formations, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). These parties, currently aligned with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), have so far shown no willingness to switch sides.
Sources in TNCC say there will be a series of meetings today to decide.
AIADMK divided on support strategy, analysts weigh stability
Within the AIADMK, a faction believes support should come from outside and be unconditional, while another faction believes the party should be part of the government.
Political analysts suggest that for long-term stability, TVK would ideally need the support of at least 125 MLAs.
This effectively makes backing from either the DMK or the AIADMK crucial. Among the two, AIADMK is seen as the more likely partner. During the campaign, C. Joseph Vijay, the face of TVK, consistently framed the contest as a direct fight against the DMK, largely steering clear of criticism of the AIADMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
However, any arrangement with AIADMK may come with conditions. Analysts point out that the party could push for its leader, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, to be appointed Deputy Chief Minister—a demand that TVK may find difficult to concede.
Despite the fluid situation, there is no immediate urgency for TVK to lock in alliances. As the single largest party, it is expected to be invited by the Governor to form the government and will likely be given time—potentially up to a month—to prove its majority on the House floor. This window allows room for negotiations, said political analysts.
For the TVK, Congress appears to be the natural ally, and there is a mutual inclination. However, it only has five MLAs. This leaves the situation more complex for the TVK.
Minority government option and historical precedents
In the interim, both the DMK and AIADMK could choose to extend outside support to a ‘minority’ TVK government to avoid the prospect of fresh elections, enabling a temporary arrangement while political equations continue to evolve.
In the past, Tamil Nadu had a ‘minority’ government headed by DMK’s M Karunanidhi. In 2006, the DMK octogenarian took up the State’s reins for the record fifth time by leading a minority government for the first time in the State with just 96 of 234 seats. The government completed the five-year term with support from its allies, including Congress.
However, a minority government also did not survive, as was witnessed in 1988 after the death of Chief Minister MG Ramachandran. His wife, VR Janaki, was sworn in as Chief Minister with the support of 97 MLAs - out of a total of 132 AIADMK MLAs. The Governor gave her 21 days to prove a majority in the House.
On January 28, 1988, when the Janaki government’s confidence motion came up for a vote in the Assembly, unprecedented violence took over the House. The Congress [then the Congress (I)] had promised its support to the government, but on the day of voting, it was clear that the party would vote against the government, a report in The Hindu said.
Two days later, the government was dismissed by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and President’s Rule was imposed there for over a year.
Published on May 6, 2026