TVK chief Vijay calls on Governor Arlekar, stakes claim to form government in Tamil Nadu

In a series of swift developments in Tamil Nadu politics, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay called on Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Chennai on Wednesday (May, 6, 2026), staking claim to form the government.

Mr. Vijay arrived at Lok Bhavan around 3.15 p.m. He held a meeting with Mr. Arlekar for more than half an hour. Mr. Vijay was accompanied by senior leaders of the party, including general secretary N. Anand, chief coordinator of the high-level administrative committee K.A. Sengoattaiyan, general secretary (election campaign management) Aadhav Arjuna, general secretary (policy and propaganda) K.G. Arunraaj, treasurer P. Venkataramanan, and joint general secretary C.T.R. Nirmalkumar.

The TVK has emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu Assembly, winning 108 seats in the 234-member House. Effectively, the party strength is 107 as Mr. Vijay has won from two seats – Perambur and Tiruchi East.

The Congress, a longtime ally of the DMK which contested as a part of the Secular Progressive Alliance in the recently concluded Assembly polls, broke ties with the Dravidian major on Wednesday to align with the TVK. The Congress won five seats in the elections. The TVK still needs the support of five more MLAs to get a simple majority in the House.

The TVK has already reached out to the CPI(M), CPI, and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi – all allies of the DMK – seeking their support to form the government. The three parties are yet to take a call on the TVK’s request.