Actor-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is facing criticism over its unusual attempt to gather support from smaller parties after reportedly reaching out through WhatsApp messages instead of holding formal political meetings.
The party, which emerged as the single-largest formation in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, secured 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly — 10 short of the majority mark required to form the government.
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According to a report by The Indian Express, the TVK contacted parties such as the Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League via messaging apps as it scrambled to secure additional numbers.
“A party that is trying to form the government, and which is short of numbers, has not visited us or even come to our office. They merely sent invitations through WhatsApp and claimed that we were invited. How are we supposed to interpret this approach?” The Indian Express quoted one leader as saying.
The Congress, which won five seats, has already extended support to the TVK, reducing the party's deficit to five MLAs.
However, the outreach style appears to have unsettled sections of the Left camp.
“Coalition building in Tamil Nadu has always involved formal discussions, respect between parties and ideological clarity, explanations and transparency in demands and conditions,” a Left leader told The Indian Express, before joking that perhaps this was “Gen-Z coalition politics”.
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The urgency around alliance-building has reportedly intensified after Governor R. V. Arlekar asked Vijay to demonstrate majority support for a secind time before taking oath as chief minister.
Despite their reservations, the Left parties have maintained publicly that the TVK, as the single-largest party, should be invited first to prove its majority on the Assembly floor.
Meanwhile, speculation continues over a possible understanding between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam if the deadlock persists, though both parties have denied any talks.
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