The Congress is set to back Vijay’s TVK in Tamil Nadu after the party’s landmark debut election performance left it just 10 seats short of a majority.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay (Photo: PTI)
The Congress has decided to extend support to the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu after the debutant party emerged as the single largest force in the 2026 Assembly elections, falling just short of the majority mark.
The development comes amid intense political activity in the state following TVK’s historic electoral breakthrough, which disrupted the decades-old dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu politics.
According to sources quoted by India Today, the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress party has passed a resolution during a virtual meeting held to discuss a possible tie-up with TVK.
Congress, as per the report, is also likely to ask for two Cabinet berths and a few chairmanships of government boards.
TVK secured 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, remaining 10 seats short of the halfway mark required to form the government.
LATE-NIGHT CONGRESS MEETING ON SUPPORT
According to news agency ANI, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President K Selvaperunthagai chaired a late-night virtual meeting with party MLAs and senior leaders to deliberate on extending support to TVK.
The discussions reportedly focused on the evolving political situation in the state and the strategic implications of aligning with Vijay’s party.
The report quoted sources as saying that Congress unanimously agreed to support TVK in forming the government.
The Congress currently has five MLAs in the Assembly, and its backing could prove crucial in helping Vijay move closer to the majority mark.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal confirmed that TVK had approached the party seeking support.
He said the party leadership had directed the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee to take a final decision on the matter.
Venugopal also stated that the Congress remained “determined not to have the BJP and its proxies run the government of Tamil Nadu in any manner.”
TVK’S HISTORIC BREAKTHROUGH RESHAPES STATE POLITICS
TVK’s performance in its debut Assembly election has been widely viewed as a watershed moment in Tamil Nadu politics.
The Vijay-led party not only emerged as the single largest party but also challenged the political dominance of the DMK and AIADMK-led fronts that have alternated power in the state since 1967.
TVK is also exploring support from smaller parties across both the DMK and AIADMK camps.
Besides Congress’s five seats, PMK has four MLAs, while CPI, CPI(M), and VCK have two seats each.
These parties are expected to play a key role in determining the final shape of the government.
AIADMK MLA Leema Rose also confirmed that TVK was in talks with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, indicating that multiple channels of negotiation remain open as government formation discussions continue.
At the same time, CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam said the party would take a final decision on support only after Vijay clearly outlines his political position.
VIJAY THANKS PEOPLE AFTER LANDMARK RESULT
Following the election outcome, Vijay addressed the people of Tamil Nadu through a post on X, recalling the criticism and mockery his party had faced since its launch.
He said TVK had entered the political field “without depending on anyone” and placed its faith solely in the people.
“From the very beginning of our party, there were many who mocked and ridiculed us. We understood that this is natural in politics and moved forward beyond it,” Vijay said.
He credited young voters as one of the biggest reasons behind the party’s success, saying the younger generation had guided their families “with strong conviction.”
TVK, in a separate statement on X, described the mandate as a rejection of “money-driven politics” and said the victory marked the rise of a “major political force for change.”
The party said the people of Tamil Nadu had responded with “immense love and overwhelming votes,” despite what it described as “disguised insults and slander” during the campaign.
GOVERNMENT FORMATION TALKS GAIN MOMENTUM
As political negotiations intensified, TVK chief Vijay also sought time to meet Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar as part of the government formation process, according to TVK sources cited by ANI.
Meanwhile, Governor Arlekar accepted the resignations of outgoing Chief Minister MK Stalin and his Council of Ministers, while requesting that they continue until a new government takes charge.
ALSO READ | ‘As I Predicted…’: Vijay Says TVK Faced Mockery, Stood ‘Fearlessly’ In Tamil Nadu Debut
Read More
