ElectionFocus – Chidambaram Backs TVK’s Claim to Form Tamil Nadu Government
ElectionFocus – Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Friday said Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar should invite Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government after the party emerged as the single-largest force in the Assembly elections with 108 seats.
Chidambaram Cites Parliamentary Convention
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Chidambaram argued that constitutional practice and parliamentary tradition require the Governor to first call the leader of the largest party when no alliance secures a clear majority in the Assembly.
He said the established democratic convention is based on the numerical strength of elected representatives. According to him, TVK leader Vijay should therefore be given the opportunity to demonstrate majority support in the Assembly.
Chidambaram also referred to a Supreme Court judgment, stating that the Assembly floor is the proper place for proving majority support rather than the Governor’s residence. He added that several political parties in Tamil Nadu had publicly supported this constitutional interpretation.
Governor Seeks Proof of Majority Support
The political developments gathered pace after Governor Arlekar invited Vijay to Lok Bhavan on Thursday for discussions related to government formation.
Sources indicated that the Governor sought clarity regarding the support TVK currently commands in the Assembly. He reportedly asked the party leadership to provide details about legislators backing its claim before any formal invitation to form the government could be considered.
The Governor is understood to have emphasized that the required majority figure in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has not yet been firmly established.
Political Reactions Intensify
The Governor’s approach has triggered strong criticism from TVK leaders and supporters. Several party representatives accused the Raj Bhavan of delaying the constitutional process and alleged that the Governor was acting under political influence.
Opposition voices claimed that the single-largest party should ordinarily receive the first opportunity to seek majority support on the Assembly floor. The issue has now become a major talking point in the state’s post-election political atmosphere.
TVK Continues Alliance Efforts
TVK, which secured 108 seats, has already received support from Congress, which won five seats in the election. Even with Congress backing, the alliance remains short of the majority mark by five seats.
As part of efforts to strengthen numbers, TVK Joint General Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar met leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in Chennai on Thursday. The discussions focused on possible support for a TVK-led government in the state.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Nirmal Kumar said both CPI and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) would conduct internal consultations before taking a final decision on extending support to TVK.
Smaller Parties Hold Key Role
The post-election arithmetic has increased the importance of smaller regional parties in Tamil Nadu. CPI and VCK each secured two seats in the Assembly elections, making their support potentially crucial for the formation of the next government.
Political observers believe the coming days will be decisive as discussions among opposition parties continue and the Governor assesses competing claims for forming the administration. The focus now remains on whether TVK can gather enough support to cross the majority threshold inside the Assembly.