Tamil Nadu Government Formation Explained: How Vijay’s TVK Crossed the Majority Mark After Historic 2026 Verdict
Vijay’s TVK has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu’s 2026 Assembly elections. Here’s how the party reached the majority mark & what happens next.
By Srajan Agarwal | 2026-05-08T17:08:31.209808+05:30
Tamil Nadu is witnessing one of the most dramatic government-formation battles in its political history. Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections, winning 108 seats and breaking the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. While TVK initially fell short of the 118-seat majority mark, support from Congress, VCK, CPI and CPI(M) has changed the numbers and placed Vijay at the centre of Tamil Nadu’s next big political transition.
For the first time in nearly 60 years, neither the DMK nor the AIADMK won the most seats in a Tamil Nadu state assembly election.
But as of today, May 8, 2026 — Tamil Nadu still does not have a new Chief Minister. And the fight over who gets to form the government has turned into one of the most watched political standoffs in recent Indian history.
Majority mark needed: 118 seats
TVK won the most seats — by far. But 108 is not 118. They are 10 seats short of the majority they need to form the government on their own.
This is called a hung assembly — no single party has enough seats to rule alone.
Who Is Vijay and his Political Party?
This matters because most of India outside Tamil Nadu is still catching up.
Vijay — full name Joseph Vijay — is one of Tamil Nadu's most popular film actors. He announced his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in February 2024. The party is barely two years old.
TVK fought the 2026 elections alone. It did not ally with the DMK, AIADMK, BJP, or Congress. It contested in 233 out of 234 constituencies and won 108 of them.
The party positioned itself as a third alternative to the DMK-AIADMK back-and-forth that Tamil Nadu politics has been built on since the 1960s. Vijay himself contested from two constituencies — Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East — and won both.
Voter turnout: 85.14% — the highest in Tamil Nadu's electoral history.
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What is Currently Happening?
On May 6, 2026, Vijay met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Chennai and discussed to form the government.
The Governor Arlekar asked Vijay to come back with letters of support from at least 118 MLAs — the majority mark. He said Vijay had not yet demonstrated he had the numbers.
Following that meeting, the convoy and security protection extended to Vijay as Chief Minister-designate were withdrawn. This caused immediate political outrage.
Congress Offered Support
The Indian National Congress, which won 5 seats in this election as part of the DMK-led alliance, has now broken away from the DMK alliance and offered its support to TVK.
TVK's total with Congress: 113 seats. Still 5 short of 118.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee stated clearly: "Governments are not decided on the lawns of Lok Bhavan. They are decided on the floor of the House."
The TNCC has called for state-wide protest demonstrations at district headquarters across Tamil Nadu today, May 8, at 11 AM, condemning the Governor and the BJP-led central government for blocking TVK from forming the government.
Also Read: Assembly Election Results 2026: Voters Rewrite Political Story in 5 States.
The Governor's Position Today
As of this morning, May 8, Governor Arlekar has maintained the same position: any party that can show 118 MLA letters of support will be invited to form the government. For the second consecutive day, the Governor has not invited Vijay.
However, constitutional experts and opposition parties are challenging this position, arguing that inviting the single largest party first — even without a guaranteed majority — is the established convention in Indian parliamentary democracy, after which the party gets a chance to prove its majority on the assembly floor.
What Leaders Says About This?
Kamal Haasan (MNM, Rajya Sabha MP): Said not inviting Vijay to form the government would "disrespect the mandate" of the people. Called for the Governor to follow democratic convention.
VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan: "The Governor has no right to ask Vijay to prove numbers or absolute majority of 118 before inviting him to form the government. He should first assume charge."
CPI General Secretary D. Raja: "We want the Governor to invite the single largest party, TVK, to form the government. The Governor must follow established practices and conventions."
CPI-M leader P. Shanmugam: "According to the Constitution, it is TVK that should be allowed to form the government."
AIADMK's M. Thambidurai (Rajya Sabha MP): Keeping things ambiguous. "So many discussions are going on. I cannot say anything now. We hope good things will happen. My party, my leader will come back."
DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan: Dismissed speculation of a DMK-AIADMK alliance. "Both parties have remained major rivals for decades. Such a political arrangement is highly unlikely."
Karnataka Minister MC Sudhakar: Criticized the Governor's approach. "The normal tradition is that the largest party is allowed to take oath and then prove its majority within a stipulated time. I feel they are probably misusing the constitutional provisions."
TVK currently has 113 confirmed seats (108 TVK + 5 Congress). They need 5 more.
Also Read: 23 Dead in Virudhunagar: Tamil Nadu's Fireworks Tragedy That Keeps Repeating
What Is A Constitutional Position?
This is the big debate right now.
In Indian parliamentary democracy, when an election produces a hung assembly, the Governor follows certain conventions:
- The single largest party is first invited to form the government and prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly within a set time period (usually 15 days).
- Only if the largest party fails to prove its majority is the option passed to the next largest party or to coalition talks.
Governor Arlekar has bypassed step one. He is asking TVK to prove its numbers before being invited — which critics say puts the cart before the horse and has no clear constitutional backing.
The Supreme Court has in past cases — including in states like Goa and Karnataka — ruled that Governors cannot impose conditions before inviting the single largest party. Opposition leaders are expected to invoke these precedents.
The Wildcard: Can DMK and AIADMK Come Together?
This is the most discussed scenario right now and the most dramatic.
If DMK (59) and AIADMK (47) somehow set aside 59 years of bitter rivalry and ally, they would have 106 seats — still short of 118 by 12 seats. They would need more partners.
But adding PMK (4), BJP (1), DMDK (1), AMMK (1) and other smaller players, a DMK-AIADMK grand coalition could hypothetically cross 118.
However, the DMK has publicly dismissed this. And the ideological contradiction of these two arch-rivals forming a government together — after decades of treating each other as political enemies — would be extraordinary by any standard.
Most analysts consider this scenario unlikely. But the fact that it is being discussed at all tells you how unusual this political moment is.
What Happens Next?
Scenario 1 — TVK forms the government with Left support (Most Likely) If VCK, CPI, and CPI-M back Vijay, he crosses 118. The Governor has no option but to invite him. Vijay takes oath as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister — making him the 14th CM of the state and the first actor since M.G. Ramachandran (1977) to take the chair.
Scenario 2 — The Governor's delay triggers legal intervention (Unfolding) TVK or its supporters move the Supreme Court or Madras High Court against the Governor's decision to withhold the invitation. Courts order the Governor to invite TVK. Vijay is sworn in under judicial direction. This has happened before in Indian political history (Karnataka 2018, Goa 2017).
Scenario 3 — A counter-alliance emerges (Low probability) DMK, AIADMK, and others cobble together 118 seats. The Governor invites them. This would be the most dramatic outcome and is not being ruled out entirely.
Editor’s Note: This story is based on developments available as of May 8, 2026. Government-formation numbers may change as parties formally submit letters of support.
Source URL: https://news4bharat.com/breaking-news/tamil-nadu-government-formation-vijay-tvk-majority-2026/