Vijay's swearing-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is unlikely to take place on Thursday, with the state's Governor making clear that he needs hard proof of a majority before any oath ceremony can proceed — leaving Vijay's TVK in an uncomfortable political limbo.
According to reports, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar told leaders during a meeting that it would be more appropriate to proceed only after receiving a letter proving support from 118 MLAs — the number required for a majority in the 234-seat assembly.
Sources told NDTV that the Governor is not convinced TVK has the numbers, making an oath ceremony on Thursday highly unlikely.
The problem is straightforward. Vijay submitted a letter showing support from 112 MLAs. Since he won from two constituencies, the effective strength of his party, TVK, stands at 107. The Congress officially handed over letters backing five MLAs, bringing the confirmed total to 112 — still six short of what the Governor demands.
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Will Vijay Form Government
TVK emerged as the single largest party in the historic Monday results, winning 108 seats and ending a 59-year streak of Dravidian party dominance in the state. The outgoing Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of the DMK lost his own seat in Kolathur, and resigned as Chief Minister on Tuesday.
With the numbers not yet adding up, the political maneuvering has moved to a seaside resort. TVK has moved its MLAs to a resort in Mahabalipuram as discussions with potential allies continue. Vijay has written to Governor Arlekar, seeking an invitation to form the government and promising to prove majority within two weeks, reports suggest.
The path to 118 remains narrow. The AIADMK has ruled out support to Vijay after a meeting with party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami. The VCK, an ally of the defeated DMK, is holding a meeting on May 7 to decide whether to back TVK. A section of AIADMK MLAs has reportedly been pushing for extending support to Vijay, though the party leadership has shut that door for now.
ALSO READ: DMK, AIADMK Mull Tie-Up To Avert Vijay Rule In Tamil Nadu? Backchannel Talks Underway, Says Report
For a man who stormed Tamil Nadu politics as a complete outsider just two years ago, the final step to the Chief Minister's chair is proving to be the hardest.
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