Five days since vote counting in Tamil Nadu the State’s political future still remains unclear. Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Friday, as he secured the support of the Communist parties.
After the Indian National Congress broke away from the DMK-led alliance to extend support to TVK on Thursday, TVK secured unconditional support from Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India on Friday, both of which were part of the pre-poll alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
This takes TVK’s tally to 116, two short of the majority 118 in a 234-member House. The support of VCK and the IUML to TVK still remains unclear.
proof of support
After submitting proof of support of the Communist parties to the Governor, Vijay also headed straight to the office of the Communist parties in Chennai to thank the leaders in person. The two Communist parties asserted that they would extend only outside support to the TVK government and would not join the alliance. In a joint statement, the parties said they would continue to work with the DMK in the struggle against communal forces and for the protection of the State’s rights.
Meanwhile, DMK President MK Stalin urged the Governor to ensure that there was no delay in the formation of the new government, and to act in accordance with constitutional provisions.
If TVK manages to muster majority support, the new dispensation would become the first coalition government in Tamil Nadu since 1967. Since then, the State has alternately been governed by either the DMK or the AIADMK, despite both parties relying on electoral alliances.
In 2006, however, DMK leader M Karunanidhi headed a minority government with outside support from the Congress and Left parties, though they were not part of the goivernment.
Published on May 8, 2026