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Tamil Nadu election deadlock persists as Vijay's party falls short of majority
Five days after vote counting concluded in Tamil Nadu, political uncertainty grips the southern Indian state as actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) secured the most seats but failed to reach the majority mark in the 234-member legislative assembly.
Governor demands proof of majority support
Vijay's TVK won 108 seats in Monday's election, leaving him 10 seats short of the 118 required to form a government. While the Indian National Congress, holding five seats, has pledged support, Vijay still needs backing from at least five more legislators to stake a claim.
On Wednesday, Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to assert his right to form the government. A second meeting followed on Thursday. However, the governor's office later issued a statement clarifying that Vijay had not demonstrated the necessary majority support in the assembly.
According to media reports, the governor has insisted Vijay provide evidence of support from 118 legislators before being invited to form the government.
Criticism and constitutional debate
TVK leaders and allies have criticized the governor's stance, arguing it unfairly denies Vijay the opportunity to prove his majority on the assembly floor. Some constitutional experts point to precedents where governors have invited the single largest party or coalition to form a government, allowing them time to secure a majority.
"The governor's priority is to ensure a stable government that can demonstrate its majority in the assembly," analysts noted.
Vijay's historic rise and political inexperience
Vijay's emergence as a political force has drawn comparisons to matinee idol MG Ramachandran, who founded the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and became chief minister in 1977. For decades, Tamil Nadu's politics have been dominated by the DMK and AIADMK, but TVK's performance shattered this duopoly, defeating the incumbent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by MK Stalin.
Unlike his predecessors, Vijay lacks political experience. The 51-year-old actor, known as "Thalapathy" (General) Vijay, has starred in 69 films and is one of India's highest-paid stars. After launching TVK in 2024, he announced his retirement from cinema to focus on politics full-time.
Speculation over coalition possibilities
As uncertainty lingers, Indian media has speculated about various coalition scenarios, including an unlikely alliance between bitter rivals DMK and AIADMK. Analysts suggest Vijay may still secure support from smaller parties and independent legislators to reach the 118-seat threshold.
Tamil Nadu has a long history of cinema intertwining with politics, with Vijay following in the footsteps of film stars like Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, who governed the state for decades.
