Chennai/New Delhi, May 8 (ANI): Tamil Nadu remains in a state of political uncertainty following a fractured mandate in the Assembly elections, as competing parties intensify efforts to stake claim to power while trading sharp political accusations.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has come out in support of Vijay, leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), urging Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to invite him to form the government as the head of the single largest party.
CPM Tamil Nadu State Secretary T.T. Shanmugam stated that constitutional convention favors giving the first opportunity to the party with the highest number of seats. He emphasized that the current scenario—a hung Assembly—is unprecedented in the state and insisted that Vijay, who leads the largest bloc, should be called to take oath as Chief Minister.
Shanmugam also criticized the Governor’s reported reliance on a High Court order, calling it misplaced, and indicated that the CPM would soon decide formally on extending support to the TVK. He confirmed that party leaders had also met DMK president and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin to discuss the evolving situation.
The political arithmetic remains tight. TVK has secured 108 seats, while the Congress has won five, bringing their combined strength to 112—still short of the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Assembly. The Governor has reportedly sought clarity from Vijay regarding additional support required to reach the “magic number,” delaying any immediate invitation to form the government.
Meanwhile, the Congress party’s decision to extend conditional support to TVK has triggered a sharp fallout with its former ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).
Congress MP Manickam Tagore strongly rebuked DMK leaders for accusing the party of betrayal, urging them to “be mindful of their language.” He defended Congress’s political choices by pointing to past alliances and sacrifices, questioning DMK’s narrative of being “backstabbed.”
Tagore highlighted that Congress had supported the DMK in previous electoral battles and reminded critics of instances where the DMK had parted ways with Congress, including its exit from the UPA government in 2013. Despite the tensions, he reiterated respect for DMK’s secular credentials.
The DMK, however, has responded sharply. Party spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai described Congress’s move as “short-sighted” and warned that it could undermine trust ahead of future national elections, particularly in 2029.
Adding to the political friction, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has also targeted the emerging TVK-Congress alliance. Party spokesperson Kovai Sathyan questioned the viability of the coalition, arguing that Congress’s five seats would not significantly alter TVK’s inability to cross the majority threshold.
In a pointed remark, Sathyan likened the alliance to “putting a hole in a ship and helping it sink faster,” underscoring skepticism about the coalition’s stability.
Amid these developments, TVK leaders are actively engaging with smaller parties such as the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), both of which have secured two seats each. Internal deliberations within these parties are ongoing, and their eventual decisions could prove decisive in determining the next government.
As negotiations continue and political rhetoric intensifies, Tamil Nadu awaits clarity on who will ultimately command a majority and form the next government. (ANI)
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