Vijay's TVK Seeks to Form Government in Tamil Nadu: The Political Earthquake Nobody Saw Coming

09 May 2026

Tamil Nadu just delivered one of the most unexpected assembly election results in decades. Vijay, the superstar-turned-politician who launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) barely two years ago, has emerged as the leader of the single largest party in the state with 108 seats. And now he is at the door of the Governor's office, staking a claim to form the government.

This is not just another political story. This is cinema and politics colliding in ways that even Tamil Nadu, a state that has watched actors become Chief Ministers before, was not fully prepared for.

Why TVK's Rise to Power Matters Beyond Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu's political landscape has been, for most of the post-independence period, a duopoly. The DMK and the AIADMK have taken turns governing the state since the 1960s. That rotation was so consistent it felt like a law of nature. No non-Dravidian party had emerged as the largest party in the assembly since that era.

TVK's 108-seat tally marked the first time since the 1960s that a non-Dravidian party emerged as the largest party in the Tamil Nadu assembly, breaking a tradition of power alternating between the DMK and the AIADMK. That alone is remarkable. But the circumstances around government formation make this story even more layered.

What Happened in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Election: The Full Picture

In an upset result, TVK surpassed the tallies of both the DMK and AIADMK alliances, amassing 108 seats but falling short of the majority mark of 118. The DMK-led alliance was reduced to 73 seats, with the DMK securing 59. The NDA won 53 seats, with the AIADMK securing 47 and the BJP just one.

This created Tamil Nadu's first hung assembly. Nobody had a clear majority. And that is where things got complicated.

Vijay won both the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies he contested in. Outgoing Chief Minister MK Stalin lost from the Kolathur constituency, where he had previously won three consecutive times. That is the kind of result that reshapes a party's entire identity overnight.

Political analysts attributed TVK's success to anti-incumbency against the DMK government, Vijay's mobilisation of fan clubs into a unified political party, and TVK's strong digital campaign portraying itself as a fresh, corruption-free alternative. Comparisons were drawn with former actor-turned-Chief Ministers MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa.

Who Is Vijay, and What Is TVK? Understanding the Man Behind the Movement

Thalapathy Vijay is one of Tamil cinema's biggest stars. His films routinely set box office records. His fan clubs span every district of Tamil Nadu and extend into Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore. That base, disciplined and emotionally invested, became the organisational backbone of TVK.

Vijay formally launched TVK in February 2024, choosing not to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and instead focusing on building grassroots support for 2026. "Our goal is to contest the 2026 assembly elections and lead the fundamental political change that people need," he had said.

At TVK's first general body meeting, Vijay delivered a fiery speech targeting both the DMK and BJP, declaring the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections a direct contest between TVK and DMK. He accused the DMK government of corruption, poor governance, and suppressing his party's activities. He also criticised the BJP-led central government, alleging neglect of Tamil Nadu's interests through GST allocation, education funding cuts, and delimitation plans.

Highlighting TVK's ideological foundation, Vijay cited inspirations from leaders such as Periyar, Kamarajar, Ambedkar, and Velu Nachiyar, asserting that TVK represents principles of social justice, inclusivity, and equality.

The Government Formation Challenge: Why 108 Seats Are Not Enough

Here is the arithmetic problem. Tamil Nadu's assembly has 234 seats. A simple majority requires 118. TVK has 108. That gap of 10 seats is what makes everything so uncertain right now.

Vijay indicated plans to take the oath of office on May 7, 2026, at Nehru Stadium in Chennai. On May 6, he met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and staked a claim to form the government. However, Arlekar asked Vijay to produce letters of support from 118 MLAs, which he believed Vijay did not have. Subsequently, the convoy and security protection provided to Vijay as Chief Minister-designate were withdrawn.

That last detail is significant. Withdrawing security from someone designated as CM-elect is a pointed message, and it intensified the political drama considerably.

TVK invited Congress MLAs to join a coalition, citing Kamarajar as one of the party's ideological icons. The Congress state unit broke ties with the DMK and agreed to support TVK, conditional upon TVK never maintaining ties with the BJP. TVK also held discussions with CPI, CPI(M), and IUML over coalition possibilities.

What the Tamil Nadu Hung Assembly Means Going Forward

From May 7 onwards, allegations of a possible alliance between the DMK and the AIADMK, which could together easily achieve a majority, circulated in mainstream media. A DMK-AIADMK combine would be politically extraordinary given their decades-long rivalry, but hung assemblies create unusual pressures.

TVK swept Chennai district comprehensively, winning 20 of 22 city constituencies. It made major inroads into the Kongu region in western Tamil Nadu, traditionally an AIADMK stronghold. The scale of its spread across the state underlines that this was not a regional surge but a statewide shift in voter preference.

The INC's support, while conditional, gives Vijay a clearer path. Every additional seat matters, and TVK's outreach to left parties signals that it understands coalition politics requires patience, not just momentum.

Closing Thoughts

Tamil Nadu has always understood that politics is performance, but Vijay is being asked to prove that performance can become governance. The state has seen actors lead before. What it has never seen is a political newcomer arrive at the threshold of power with this much uncertainty about whether the door will actually open.

The next few days will decide whether Tamil Nadu gets its most unconventional Chief Minister ever, or whether the political establishment finds a way to reorganise around him. Either way, something has already changed that cannot be unchanged.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information available across the web. Parchar Manch does not take responsibility for its complete accuracy, as the content could not be fully verified.

FAQs

What is TVK, and who leads it?

TVK stands for Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. It is a political party founded by Tamil film actor Vijay in February 2024. Vijay serves as party chief and was declared the CM candidate for the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

How many seats did TVK win in the 2026 Tamil Nadu election?

TVK won 108 seats, making it the single largest party in the assembly. However, a majority requires 118 seats, leaving Tamil Nadu with a hung assembly.

Why is Vijay unable to form the government immediately?

The Governor asked Vijay to prove the majority support of 118 MLAs before being invited to form the government. TVK, with 108 seats, needs at least 10 more supporting MLAs from other parties.

Which parties are supporting TVK in coalition talks?

The Indian National Congress agreed to support TVK on the condition that TVK never aligns with the BJP. TVK also held talks with CPI, CPI(M), and other parties to secure sufficient numbers.

Is the DMK-AIADMK alliance possible despite their long rivalry?

Media reports have suggested the possibility, as a combined DMK-AIADMK tally would easily cross the majority mark. However, no formal alliance has been confirmed.

What ideology does TVK follow?

TVK describes itself as a party rooted in social justice, inclusivity, and equality, citing Periyar, Ambedkar, and Kamarajar as ideological inspirations while positioning itself as a corruption-free alternative to established Dravidian parties.