Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief, C. Joseph Vijay, is set to meet Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan amid intense political negotiations over government formation in Tamil Nadu.
Heavy police security has been deployed at the VCK headquarters in Ashok Nagar following reports that Vijay may personally visit the party office to seek support from Thirumavalavan.
The meeting comes at a crucial juncture, with TVK falling short of the majority mark of 118 needed to form the government.
Vijay-led TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections by winning 108 seats in the 234-member House.
Though the Congress extended support with its five MLAs, Acting Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar declined to invite TVK to form the government, citing the absence of majority support in the Assembly.
Following the Governor’s decision, TVK intensified efforts to mobilise support from parties within the DMK-led alliance. The party reached out to the VCK, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Responding to the outreach, both CPI and CPI(M) announced unconditional outside support to Vijay’s bid to form the government. The Left parties, however, clarified that they would continue their political association with the DMK-led alliance even while supporting TVK on the issue of government formation.
The IUML, meanwhile, ruled out supporting TVK and reiterated that it would remain aligned with the DMK alliance.
With the backing of Congress and the two Left parties, TVK’s tally has risen to 116 MLAs, leaving the party just two seats short of the required majority mark of 118.
All eyes are now on the VCK, which holds two seats in the Assembly and is expected to announce its stand later in the day.
Political sources indicated that discussions are also centred on possible participation of the VCK in a prospective TVK-led government.
The outcome of Vijay’s meeting with Thirumavalavan is being closely watched, as Tamil Nadu continues to remain in political uncertainty over who will eventually form the next government.
(IANS)
