Tamil Nadu verdict: Vijay raises claim, Congress offers conditional support

CHENNAI: TVK president C Joseph Vijay, who is at least 10 seats short of a simple majority to form the government in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, has reached out to multiple parties, including DMK and AIADMK allies. According to Julie Mariappan, Congress has sent a positive signal to TVK, which announced the formation of a government on Tuesday. TVK’s 108 seats will drop to 107 after Vijay resigned from the Trichy East seat on Wednesday. So, in the 233-member Parliament, he needs the support of 117 MLAs. Sources said TVK middlemen were in touch with VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss besides the five-seat Congress. VCK has two seats and PMK has four seats. “The TNCC will take a final decision on Vijay’s request,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in Delhi. On Tuesday night, a majority of former PCC chiefs, MLAs and Congress MPs said the Congress should support TVK if Vijay does not include the “public strength of the NDA” in the deal.

Vijay wrote to Tamil Nadu Governor RV Arlekar on Tuesday, requesting to be invited to form the government as the largest party and to be sworn in on Thursday. Party sources said intermediaries have contacted VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss. Each party has six seats. However, VCK appears cautious. “Why should one leave one alliance for another? The BJP will not allow a Congress-backed government,” said a VCK politician. TVK has 108 members, 10 short of a simple majority. After Vijay resigned from Trichy East seat on Wednesday, its seat will be reduced to 107. There are five MLAs in Parliament. The left-wing parties, which hold two seats each, have not yet received any invitations. “Let’s see TVK’s decision. They have to take a stand,” Communist Party of India state secretary M Veerapandian said. Earlier, CPI, CPM, VCK, MDMK and IUML politicians met Stalin at the DMK headquarters and DMK sources said the allies reiterated their support. The AIADMK camp was also buzzing with activity. After meeting AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, first-time MP Leema Rose Martin told reporters that talks between TVK and AIADMK are on. “I thought it was going to end on a positive note. Everything went well,” she said. However, senior AIADMK politician and former minister OS Manian ruled out supporting TVK.