For a majority, Vijay starts talks with both Congress, AIADMK

Making its Assembly election debut, the Tamil film superstar’s TVK won 108 seats, leaving a significant gap to the ruling DMK, which came in second with 59 seats. However, with the TVK falling short of the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Assembly, attention has shifted swiftly from celebration to coalition-building.

By Tuesday morning, as Vijay visited his party office and convened a meeting with newly elected MLAs, plans for a coalition were already set in motion.

Sources indicated that under one proposed arrangement, the TVK-led government could include as many as two Cabinet berths for the Congress, which won five seats, if the parties decide on a tie-up. The arrangement would require other smaller parties’ support, too, for the block to have a majority in the Assembly. Later in the day, sources said the “hesitation” of several of the smaller parties has led TVK to consider an arrangement with the AIADMK, which has 47 seats.

On Tuesday evening, AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said that the state Congress unit has been directed to take a final decision on Vijay’s request for support.

“The president of TVK, Thiru Vijay, has requested the Indian National Congress for support to form a government in Tamil Nadu… INC is clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu was for a secular government committed to protecting the Constitution in letter and spirit. INC is determined not to have the BJP and its proxies run the government of Tamil Nadu in any manner,” Venugopal said after a meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as well as AICC in charge of Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar.

“Thiru Vijay has spoken about drawing inspiration from Perunthalaivar Kamaraj also. Accordingly, the Congress leadership has directed the TNCC to take a final decision on Thiru Vijay’s request, keeping in view the sentiments of the state reflected in the electoral verdict,” Venugopal said.

At the same time, lottery baron Santiago Martin’s wife, Leema Rose Martin, an AIADMK MLA who recently joined the party, said discussions were in progress between Vijay’s camp and Edappadi K Palaniswami, the general secretary of AIADMK.

“Talks are happening. We hope it leads to a stable government,” she said, adding that her party remained open to options as the numbers settle.

Top sources within the TVK confirmed that exploratory conversations had begun, with Aadhav Arjuna, a key figure in Vijay’s inner circle, playing a central role in initiating contact. Arjuna, who has emerged as one of the party’s most visible coordinators, is also Leema Rose Martin’s son-in-law, adding a layer of familiarity to the otherwise formal engagement.

“Congress has reacted positively, but CPI, CPM, VCK and IUML have been uncertain so far,” a senior TVK leader said.

According to sources, TVK is expected to allocate four to six ministerial positions to partners, both to secure numbers and to compensate for its own relative inexperience in governance. Apart from former AIADMK veteran K Sengottaiyan, most of Vijay’s winning candidates are first-time legislators.

That lack of administrative depth is already shaping early decisions. Senior bureaucratic and political circles are closely watching reports that former IAS officer U Sagayam, widely known for his anti-corruption stance, may be considered for a legislative role, possibly through a by-election in Tiruchi East, one of the two constituencies Vijay has won and may vacate.

The immediate procedural steps are underway. TVK MLAs are expected to formally elect Vijay as their legislature party leader soon, after which the Governor will invite him to form the government once majority support is demonstrated. According to party sources, Vijay is likely to seek up to a week to prove his numbers on the floor of the House even as he takes charge of the government by the weekend.

Meanwhile, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi have congratulated TVK on its victory. Vijay thanked both of them.

(With inputs from ENS, New Delhi)