The CPI(M) and CPI on Thursday (May 7, 2026) denounced Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s decision not to call Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay to form the government, calling it “undemocratic” and an “insult” to the mandate given by Tamil Nadu voters.

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CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby cited the example of the 13-day BJP-led government of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Centre in 1996. “Everyone knew that Vajpayee did not have the numbers. Still, he was allowed to form a government and a Parliament session was convened for him to show his strength,” Mr. Baby said, while arguing that by virtue of being the single largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, TVK should be called to form the government.

“No one has staked claim to form government, it is highly objectionable and undemocratic to ignore the verdict given by the people,” Mr. Baby said.

CPI general secretary D. Raja said that the strength of a government has to be tested on the floor of the Assembly and not in the Governor’s house. “The mandate is in favour of the new party TVK headed by Vijay. This should be recognised. The Governor should call upon the single largest party to form the government. The floor test should be on the floor of the Assembly, not at the Governor’s residence. Governors should act in accordance with practices and conventions of a mutli-party democracy,” he said.

Both the general secretaries did not clarify whether the Left parties will extend support for TVK or not. “We fought as part of Secular Progressive Alliance to stall BJP. We will continue to fight against the BJP. BJP should not be allowed unethical tricks to intervene and create trouble for people of Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Raja added.

In the results to the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats while the ruling DMK came down to 59 seats and the AIADMK secured 47 seats in the 234-member House. Since the verdict threw up a hung Assembly, the TVK has been working to gather support from parties to form a government in the State.