The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) may consider a mass resignation of all its 107 MLAs if either MK Stalin’s DMK or Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK moves ahead to form the government, party sources said on Thursday, signalling growing unease within Vijay’s camp amid an ongoing political stalemate.
The warning, though not officially articulated by Vijay himself, reflects rising frustration inside the party as post-poll negotiations remain inconclusive and the numbers game continues to stall government formation.
The Current Numbers
| Party | Seats Won | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TVK | 108 (effective 107 after Vijay vacates one seat) | Single-largest party |
| DMK | 59 | Second |
| AIADMK | 47 | Third |
| Congress | 5 | Supporting TVK |
| TVK+Congress Total | 112 | Still short of majority (118) |
The TVK won 108 seats in the Assembly polls, including two seats won by Vijay. With Vijay expected to vacate one seat per constitutional rule, the party’s effective strength stands at 107 MLAs.
It has the backing of the Congress, which adds five more members, taking the tally to 112 – still short of the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member House.
The Political Deadlock
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| TVK’s Position | Single-largest party cannot be ignored |
| DMK-AIADMK Talks | Reports of backchannel talks between long-time rivals |
| Purpose of Talks | To keep TVK from taking charge |
| TVK’s Interpretation | Tacit alignment to prevent Vijay from taking office |
According to sources, the TVK leadership is particularly upset over what it believes is a tacit alignment between the DMK and AIADMK to prevent Vijay from taking office, despite his party emerging as the single-largest formation in the Assembly.
Leaders see recent political signals from both Dravidian majors as an attempt to keep TVK out of power, even as neither party has the numbers to independently form a government.
TVK’s Warning
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Threat | Mass resignation of all 107 MLAs |
| Trigger | If DMK or AIADMK is invited to form government |
| Mood | Rising frustration; “largest party cannot be ignored” |
“The mandate is fractured, but the largest party cannot be ignored,” a senior TVK functionary said, capturing the mood within the camp.
Coalition Efforts
The party has been actively reaching out to DMK allies – including:
- Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)
- Left parties (CPI, CPI-M)
- Indian Union Muslim League (IUML)
However, a firm commitment has not yet come through.
The Development That Triggered the Warning
The warning came a day after reports suggested that the DMK opened backchannel talks with its long-time rival AIADMK in a bid to keep the TVK from taking charge. The DMK got 59 seats, while the AIADMK managed 47 in the April 23 Assembly polls.
The development reflects the high-stakes game of numbers in Tamil Nadu, where no single party has reached the majority mark of 118 seats.
