In a major setback for the Vijay-led TVK, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has officially withdrawn its support from the alliance. The IUML, which holds two seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, has reportedly opted to remain with its long-standing ideological partner, the DMK. The blow does not stop there; the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which also holds two seats, has yet to send a formal letter of support to Vijay’s camp.
Insiders suggest the VCK is holding back to negotiate for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post and key cabinet berths before committing. Without the combined four seats of the IUML and VCK, Vijay’s current bloc, consisting of his 107 TVK MLAs, five from the Congress, and four from the Left parties (CPI and CPI-M), leaves him at 116 seats, visibly short of the 118-seat majority mark in the 234-seat Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Government formation now looks uncertain for Vijay’s camp. Citing sources within Governor RV Arlekar’s office, NDTV reported that Vijay has not been invited to take the oath as Chief Minister on Saturday. The Governor is not yet convinced that Vijay commands the support of 118 MLAs. Until written proof of majority arrives on Raj Bhavan’s table, the oath ceremony is unlikely to move forward.
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This deadlock follows a stunning debut for the TVK. Vijay shattered the state’s 50-year-old bipolar political structure, emerging as the single largest party with 107 seats. By contesting alone and refusing to align with the “Dravidian giants,” Vijay achieved what many thought impossible, relegating both the DMK (59 seats) and AIADMK (47 seats) to the background for the first time since 1967.
However, the “Old Guard” is fighting back. Speculation is rife regarding a “survival pact” between the DMK and AIADMK. While DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan dismissed these as “rumors,” the mere existence of such a theory highlights the desperation of the traditional powers to block a non-Dravidian outsider.
As the clock ticks toward the May 10 deadline, Chennai remains on edge. All eyes are now on Panaiyur, where Vijay is holding emergency meetings to bring the VCK back into the fold. Whether the “Thalapathy” wave can overcome this constitutional stalemate remains the million-dollar question.
The next 24 hours could prove to be crucial. If the TVK fails to secure the support of the VCK, the Governor may invite the DMK-led faction to explore alternative alliance options. On the other hand, TVK supporters have begun gathering outside the Raj Bhavan, demanding that the mandate delivered in favor of Vijay be respected.
For Vijay, this now stands as the greatest political test of his career, whether he can translate this historic electoral triumph into a stable government.
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