Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief C. Joseph Vijay on Saturday met Governor-in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and formally staked claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu after securing the support of 120 MLAs, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Assembly.
Sources said that Vijay also requested the Governor to schedule the swearing-in ceremony at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
If the Governor approves the request, Vijay is likely to take oath as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu along with a few members of his Cabinet.
The crucial meeting with the Governor came after Congress, the two Left parties CPI and CPI-M, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) extended support to the Vijay-led TVK, taking the alliance tally to 120 MLAs.
The TVK leaders submitted letters of support from alliance partners during the meeting with Governor Arlekar, strengthening Vijay’s bid to form the next government in the state.
The latest political boost for TVK came after the IUML formally announced support to Vijay’s government formation efforts.
Earlier on Saturday, the VCK had also declared its support, paving the way for TVK to comfortably secure the required numbers.
According to the latest tally, TVK now has the backing of 120 MLAs, including 107 from TVK, five from the Congress, and two each from the CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML.
Tamil Nadu went to polls for all the 234 Assembly constituencies in a single phase on April 23.
The election witnessed a fierce four-cornered contest 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, after Vijay decided to retain only one of the two Assembly constituencies he had won, the party’s effective strength came down to 107.
Following the election verdict, intense political activity unfolded in Chennai, with TVK opening communication channels with several parties to mobilise support for government formation.
The CPI and CPI-M were among the first parties to publicly support Vijay, followed later by the Congress.
With the support of VCK and IUML now secured, Vijay has comfortably crossed the halfway mark required to form the government in the state.
Sources said the TVK Chief sought an urgent appointment with Governor Arlekar ahead of the latter’s scheduled departure to Kerala.
The Governor is expected to take a final decision on inviting TVK to form the government after examining the letters of support submitted by the alliance partners.
Celebrations erupted among TVK cadres across Tamil Nadu following the developments, with party workers gathering outside the party headquarters in Chennai and expressing confidence that Vijay would soon take oath as the next Chief Minister of the state.
(IANS)
