Efforts to form the government have picked up pace in Tamil Nadu, as Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) delivered a major upset to the Dravidian duopoly in the recently-concluded Assembly elections.
The Congress — which fought the elections in alliance with MK Stalin's DMK — decided on Wednesday to abandon this union and lend ‘conditional’ support to TVK.
TVK emerged as the single largest party, registering victory in 108 seats, but fell short of the majority mark by ten seats in the 234-seat state Assembly. Since the results were announced on 4 May, Vijay has been firming up support to cross the majority mark and form the government.
On Wednesday, Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan as part of government formation efforts. Sources told news agency ANI said the TVK "does not have official figures as of now" and the Governor is apparently not convinced about the numbers so far.
Vijay won from Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur seats, and is likely to keep the latter constituency in Chennai. With Vijay to step down from one of the two seats, the effective strength of TVK in the assembly will become 107.
Meanwhile, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has said that it will not support TVK in its bid to form government. Deputy Coordinator KP Munusamy on Wednesday said “whatever the situation is, AIADMK will not support TVK.”
