Is the DMK-AIADMK alliance on the cards? TVK’s Vijay scrambles for numbers: Tamil Nadu CM suspense intensifies

Will AIADMK-DMK come together?After a bitter fight in the assembly elections, the DMK and AIADMK are now reportedly exploring ways to prevent TVK from forming the government.

While a formal decision has yet to be made, discussions within both camps suggest the possibility is being carefully scrutinized. Hours after Congress announced its support for TVK, reports of deliberations between the two Dravidian giants surfaced. Neither the DMK nor the AIADMK has officially commented on the reports.DMK won 59 seats and AIADMK 47 seats. Even taken together, the two parties would need the support of smaller parties to break through a 118-seat majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.Meanwhile, the AIADMK shifted some of its newly elected MLAs to neighboring Puducherry. Party spokesman Kovai Sathyan confirmed that lawmakers had been moved there, but did not reveal the number of provincial legislators or the reasons behind the decision.According to PTI sources, the AIADMK was initially prepared to provide unconditional support to the Vijay-led TVK to help it form the government, and discussions were ongoing between the two parties.

However, according to sources, the TVK camp has remained silent since Wednesday afternoon and the AIADMK reportedly withdrew the offer.Governor yet to decide on TVK claimEarlier on Wednesday, Vijay met Governor Alka to put forward his proposal for forming the government. However, a formal invitation to form the government or a decision on the swearing-in ceremony has not yet been announced as the governor was reportedly not entirely satisfied with TVK’s statement of support.Congress Lok Sabha member Jyotimani criticized the delay, saying most people should be tested in Parliament and not at Raj Bhawan.“BJP must immediately stop playing politics through the state assembly. The governor should immediately invite TVK leader Vijay to form the government,” she said.Congress supports TVK after breakup with DMKThese developments come after the Congress severed ties with its long-time ally DMK and extended support to TVK.Congress said in a letter that its support remains conditional on TVK not involving “public forces” in the alliance.“The people of Tamil Nadu, especially the youth, have given a clear verdict against a secular, progressive and welfarist government that believes in the principles of the Constitution,” the letter said.Congress leader Pawan Khera defended the decision and denied accusations of betrayal by the DMK.“I want to take you back to December 2013, when the DMK announced that it would fight the Lok Sabha polls alone. Did you ask them then if this was backbiting? It cannot be called backstabbing,” Hera said in New Delhi.Vijay’s numbers remain tightTVK became the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member parliament, but fell short of a majority.With five MLAs in parliament, the TVK-led bloc currently holds 113 seats. However, Vijay contested and won from two constituencies, Perampur and Trichy East, and had to vacate one seat. Once this happens, the effective number of seats in the House of Representatives will be reduced to 233, the majority will be reduced to 117, and the number of TVK seats will be reduced to 107.This would leave the TVK-led alliance needing five more MLAs to prove a majority.According to PTI sources, TVK is currently trying to get support from VCK, two Left parties and IUML, which are currently part of the DMK-led alliance. However, none of these parties has so far expressed explicit support.

“Vijay has sought our support. We will take a decision after ascertaining the opinion of senior party officials,” VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan told a news channel.VCK is expected to hold a meeting on Thursday to decide on TVK’s request, sources said.Meanwhile, TVK has shifted several of its MLAs from districts to a resort in Mahabalipuram as the party steps up efforts to secure the necessary numbers to form the government.