Vijay, an actor–politician, formally claimed the government position in Tamil Nadu after his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) surged to 108 seats in the Assembly elections and became the single largest party.
Vijay has corresponded with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar seeking an invitation to take his oath as Chief Minister and to create the next government in the state. The letter was allegedly sent to Raj Bhavan by email shortly after the results from the election showed TVK’s strong performance in several districts.
This development is also a key turning point in Tamil Nadu politics, where Vijay’s meteoric rise from cinema superstar to political heavyweight has reshaped the very contours of the state’s traditional electoral landscape. TVK was declared as a key player in the formation of the govt during its first major Assembly election that saw it garner 108 seats, defeating several of the established regional parties.
“The 108 sitting won’t win the 234-seat majority, but we believe that we can be sure to have majority support on the floor of the House after two weeks.” (TVK’s leader, Raja Bharat.) Dialogue with independent MLAs and smaller parties is already in progress, senior party functionaries said.
Vijay reportedly stressed the people’s mandate for change and guaranteed constitutional stability in his communication to the Governor. As per reports, the party seems to seek an earlier invitation to formalise the current government so it could be able to start consultations and reach a consensus to build the majority within the time it needed to do so.
Political commentators claim turnout for the election indicates a seismic turnaround in the sentiments of voters in Tamil Nadu. For generations, the state’s politics has been dominated by the two most populous Dravidian parties.
Nevertheless, TVK’s first-place stand-out is evidence of rising support for Vijay among younger voters, first-time voters and urban constituents, who have become very appreciative of the electoral commitments voters behind Vijay’s campaign on governance changes, job growth, anti-corruption and welfare policies. Following the announcement of the results, celebrations erupted among TVK supporters throughout the state.
Party workers outside Vijay’s house and TVK offices waved flags, burst crackers and chanted slogans supporting and fighting to restore the actor-politician in those situations. Videos of passionate supporters celebrating the win have circulated virally on social media. Opposition parties, meanwhile, have responded warily to TVK’s decision to claim stakes in the contest.
A handful of leaders wondered if the party would be able to earn enough support to overcome the majority mark; others conceded that the electorate had unambiguously turned the tide in favour of political reform. The claim will be reviewed by the Governor and constitutional experts before a decision can be made on an invitation of a party to form a government.
If invited to form the government, Vijay’s swearing-in would mark one of the most significant political transitions in Tamil Nadu’s recent history, cementing his transformation from one of India’s biggest film stars into a major political leader.
