PTC Web Desk: Actor-turned-politician Vijay is on the brink of scripting a historic political debut, as his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) appears to have crossed the crucial majority mark in the Tamil Nadu Assembly following days of intense negotiations and uncertainty.

TVK emerged as the single largest party in last month’s Assembly elections, winning 108 seats in the 234-member House and ending the decades-long dominance of Dravidian heavyweights DMK and AIADMK. However, the initial celebrations were short-lived as Governor RV Arlekar declined to invite Vijay to form the government, citing lack of majority support.

Despite multiple meetings, the Governor maintained that the party must demonstrate support from at least 118 MLAs, the halfway mark required to stake claim.

Alliance arithmetic turns in Vijay’s favour

The political tide began to turn on Friday as TVK secured backing from key parties. The Congress extended support with its five MLAs, reportedly after assurances that TVK would not align with the BJP.

Soon after, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), along with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of Marxist, pledged their support. These parties collectively added six more MLAs, taking Vijay’s tally to the majority threshold.

Additional support is also expected from smaller parties and independents, pushing the number beyond the required mark and strengthening Vijay’s claim to form the government.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations and political messaging

Sources indicated that hectic backchannel negotiations played a key role in consolidating support. Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is believed to have personally intervened to secure backing from VCK leadership.

However, the support came with cautionary notes. Leaders from allied parties publicly criticised TVK’s initial outreach strategy, calling for greater political maturity and coordination in handling post-election dynamics.

Concerns were also raised about alleged attempts to destabilise the political situation, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of influencing constitutional processes through the Governor’s office , a charge denied by the BJP.

Speculation over rival alliances fizzles out

Amid the uncertainty, there were speculations of a potential alliance between arch-rivals DMK and AIADMK. Political observers suggested that both parties, wary of Vijay’s rise, explored options to retain influence.

However, the idea failed to materialise due to strong ideological resistance within both camps.

Crucial meeting with Governor ahead

With numbers now seemingly in his favour, Vijay is expected to meet the Governor again to formally stake claim to form the government. The development could mark the culmination of a dramatic political week in Tamil Nadu.

If invited to form the government, Vijay will join a long line of film personalities in the state who successfully transitioned into politics, reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s unique cinema-politics connection.