Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay is set to become the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu as the governor hands over to him the appointment letter. He is set to take the oath tomorrow, May 10. This is the fourth instance when the TVK chief met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to prove his majority.
Finally, TVK, with the alliance of VCK, CPI, CPI(M), Congress and IUML, is ready to form a government in the state.
Actor-turned politician has reshaped Tamil Nadu politics after leading his party to become the single largest force, effectively ending the decade-old two-party dominance in the state.
However, the game was not that simple for Vijay. Despite his immense popularity as an actor-turned-politician, he could not cross the majority mark, leading to a prolonged power struggle.
In the past few days, Vijay has met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar three times but has failed to prove his majority in the legislative assembly.
Vijay’s party secured 108 seats in the election, while the majority mark is 118. He needs 10 more seats to form the government. The Congress, which holds 5 seats, ended its long-term alliance with the DMK to support a new coalition. However, Congress’s support alone is not enough, as the total rises only to 113, still five short of the majority.
The Governor’s stance has drawn criticism from both rivals and allies, who argue that majority support should be tested on the Assembly floor rather than at Raj Bhavan.
May 4, 2026: The Landmark Victory
May 4 marked a turning point in Tamil Nadu politics when Vijay secured 108 seats and emerged as the single largest party, ending the decades-long dominance of the DMK–AIADMK duopoly.
However, forming a government has not been easy. Vijay, who contested from both Perambur and Trichy East, must vacate one seat. This would reduce his party’s strength to 107, meaning he would need 11 more seats to reach the majority mark.
May 6, 2026: Vijay’s First Meeting with the Governor
Vijay visited Raj Bhavan to stake a claim to form the government before Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. He submitted a list of TVK MLAs along with a formal letter of support from the Indian National Congress (5 seats), which ended its alliance with the DMK.
However, the Governor declined the proposal, citing insufficient numbers. He stated that support from 118 MLAs was required, rather than recognizing Vijay solely as the leader of the single largest party.
May 7, 2026: Rejection and Growing Uncertainty
Vijay met Governor Arlekar again within 24 hours. After the meeting, Raj Bhavan issued an official press release stating that the “requisite majority support” had not yet been established. The Governor asked Vijay to return with support from at least 118 MLAs, emphasizing the need for stability.
As a result, the proposed swearing-in ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium was postponed, deepening the political uncertainty in the state.
May 8, 2026: The Numbers Game Intensifies
To secure additional support, Vijay held talks with CPI(M) leaders in Chennai. Later, CPI (2 seats) and CPI(M) (2 seats) extended their support, taking the total strength to 116 seats—just two short of the majority mark.
Vijay met the Governor again for the third consecutive day, but no invitation was issued immediately. Meanwhile, reports suggested that the AIADMK was considering supporting TVK to avoid President’s Rule.
May 9, 2026: The Final Breakthrough
The week-long political drama reached a decisive moment on Saturday, as the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) officially announced their support for TVK. Their backing helped the coalition cross the majority threshold, paving the way for government formation and reducing the possibility of President’s Rule. Vijay is finally set to meet the governor on the evening of May 9 for the fourth time.
Former IPS Officer Moves Supreme Court Against TN Governor
A retired IPS officer has gone to the Supreme Court against Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. He says the governor should have invited TVK leader C. Joseph Vijay to form the government because TVK became the largest party in the Assembly elections.
The petition was filed by former IPS officer M. Ramasubramani, who earlier worked as a senior police officer. He argued that the governor unfairly decided who had majority support without allowing a vote in the Assembly.
The petition also says TVK should have been given a chance to prove its majority through a floor test in the Assembly. According to the plea, the governor’s decision violated Articles 12 and 32 of the Constitution.
