Chennai, 09 May (H.S.): Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday formally staked claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu after meeting Governor-in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and submitting letters of support from alliance partners.

Vijay, whose party emerged as the single-largest formation in the recently concluded Assembly elections, claimed the backing of 120 MLAs in the 234-member House, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 118 required to form the government.

Sources said Vijay also requested the Governor to hold the swearing-in ceremony at 3 p.m. on Sunday. If approved, Vijay is expected to take oath as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu along with a few members of his cabinet.

The meeting assumes significance as it came amid intense political developments in the state following the fractured electoral verdict. Support from the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) helped the Vijay-led alliance cross the majority mark.

According to the latest numbers, TVK has the support of 107 MLAs of its own, along with five Congress legislators and two MLAs each from CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML, taking the total strength to 120.

Earlier in the day, both VCK and IUML formally announced their support to TVK, strengthening Vijay’s bid to head the next government in the state.

Tamil Nadu witnessed a four-cornered contest in the April 23 Assembly elections involving the DMK, AIADMK, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), and TVK. The results, declared on May 4, saw TVK emerge as the single-largest party with 108 seats. However, the party’s effective strength came down to 107 after Vijay chose to retain only one of the two constituencies he had won.

Meanwhile, celebrations erupted among TVK cadres across Tamil Nadu following Vijay’s meeting with the Governor, with party workers expressing confidence that the actor-turned-politician would soon become the state’s next Chief Minister.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman