Tamil Nadu govt formation: Vijay's oath-taking tomorrow, Cong may be given 3 ministerial berths | Highlights

Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will attend TVK chief Vijay's swearing in ceremony at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

The Lok Bhavan has confirmed that Vijay's swearing in ceremony will be held at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai at 10 am on Sunday.

The swearing in ceremony of Vijay will take place at 10 am on Sunday because an IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Supergiants will take place in Chennai in the afternoon. Thus, on police's request, the swearing in has been re-scheduled to 10 am, said sources.

Sources have told India TV that six leaders will be sworn in as ministers during Vijay's oath-taking ceremony on Sunday. They are likely to be Sengottiyan, Adhav Arjuna, Anand, Arun Raj, Nirmal Kumar and Rajmohan.

Sources have told India TV that the Congress, which has five MLAs in Tamil Nadu, maybe given three ministerial berths. The Congress, a former ally of the DMK, was the first to announce support for TVK after Vijay's party emerged as the single party after the recently held Tamil Nadu elections.

TVK chief Vijay will be sworn in as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday at 3.15 pm. The oath-taking will happen at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.

TVK workers and supporters were seen bursting firecrackers outside the TVK headquarters in Chennai to celebrate as the party is set to form the government in Tamil Nadu. 

TCK chief Vijay met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar athe Lok Bhavan in Chennai for the fourth time in four days, staking claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu.

Sources have told India TV that TVK chief Vijay, who now has a complete majority, has sought an appointment with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar for swearing in ceremony tomorrow at 3 pm.

TVK chief Vijay has arrived at the Lok Bhavan to meet Governor Arlekar to stake claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu. 

TVK chief Vijay will meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar shortly at the Lok Bhavan in Chennai, after his party received backing from the Left parties, the VCK and the IUML to form the government in Tamil Nadu. The governor had earlier given time for a meering at 6.30 pm to Vijay.

Sources have told India TV that Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar's Kerala visit has been postponed, as TVK chief Vijay is on his way to meet him. Vijay's TVK has received the backing of the VCK and the IUML, along with that of Congress and Left parties, to get a simple majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Despite his party's decision to extend unconditional support to the TVK, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan has said that the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi is still a part of the DMK-led alliance. Speaking at a press conference in Chennai, he said his party decided to back Vijay only after considering the long term vision into account.

Speaking at a press conference in Chennai, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan has said that his party decided to back Vijay's TVK to prevent President's rule in the state. He said a political crisis in Tamil Nadu should not become cause for implementing President's rule. 

VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan is addressing a press conference in Chennai. This comes after his party declared unconditional support to Vijay-led TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu, and the actor-politician is expected to call on Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar soon.  

Vijay has left for Lok Bhavan to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to stake claim to form the government. This comes after the VCK extended "unconditional" support to the TVK, ending the uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu.

Vijay will meet Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar shortly, as his TVK has received the "unconditional" support of the VCK to form the government in the state. This will be the fourth time this week that Vijay meets the governor to stake claim to form the government.

DMK president MK Stalin has congratulated the TVK after Vijay's party secured a majority, with support from Congress, the CPI, the CPI(M) and the VCK. In an X post, Stalin reiterated that his party will not obstruct the formation of a new government and that the DMK would function as a constructive opposition party.

"In a situation where no one secured the majority to form a government, many put forward alternative ideas. As far as I am concerned, whatever decision our allied parties take, I believed that we should respect their decision, act in coordination, ensure a stable government is formed, and not pave the way for another election," he said. 

TVK leader Adhav Arjuna has claimed that the VCK has decided to support Vijay's party. He also showed a letter from VCK 'extending support' to TVK on government formation. He has also thanked Congress and the Left parties for their support.

The VCK's press conference in which the party was supposed to announce whether it will support the TVK or not has been postponed to 6 pm today, said sources. Earlier, the media briefing was scheduled to be held at 11 am, but was later postponed to 4 pm.

The suspense over formation of a new government in Tamil Nadu continues. On Friday evening, news first came about TVK chief actor Vijay going to take oath the next day at Nehru Stadium in Chennai, but minutes later, news came that the Governor has not yet invited him to form the government. The reason: Vijay still requires the requisite number of MLAs who will support his government. Click here to read more.

TVK chief Vijay has arrived at his Pattinapakkam residence from his house in Neelankarai. So far, his party received support from the Congress, the CPI, and the CPI(M). However, it is still short of two MLAs to form the government in the state.

Amid the continued suspense over the formation of government in Tamil Nadu, TVK chief Vijay was seen leaving from his residence in Neelankarai. He is likely to hold a party meeting with all MLAs shortly.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday held a meeting with party MLAs at his residence in Chennai, as suspense over government formation in Tamil Nadu continues. 

TVK general secretary N Anand has arrived at the hotel in Tamil Nadu's Mahabalipuram, where MLAs of Vijay's party are reportedly staying.

Amid continuing suspense over whether the VCK will extend support to TVK for government formation in Tamil Nadu, party leader SS Balaji on Saturday said the details of the party’s press conference would be announced later in the day.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Balaji said, “The place and the time of the press meet will be announced around 4 pm today.”

He further stated that the party leadership would officially communicate the schedule for the media interaction, during which VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan is expected to announce the party’s final decision on supporting TVK.

The AIADMK is making every possible effort to prevent Vijay from coming to power in Tamil Nadu. With the numbers still falling short of the majority mark, political equations in the state are witnessing dramatic shifts.

According to sources, bitter rivals DMK and AIADMK are even exploring the possibility of working together to stop TVK from forming the government. It is learnt that the AIADMK is willing to accept outside support from the DMK if required.

However, the entire political situation now appears to hinge on the stand of the VCK. If the party’s two MLAs extend support to TVK, a possibility that currently appears strong, Vijay’s path to becoming Chief Minister could become almost certain.

On the other hand, if VCK decides against backing TVK, the government formation process could face a major hurdle and the political deadlock may continue.

Retired IPS officer  Ramasubramani has moved the Supreme Court challenging Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar’s refusal to invite TVK chief C Joseph Vijay to form the government after the 2026 Assembly elections.

The Governor’s press release said Vijay was invited to Lok Bhavan and was informed that the “requisite majority support” needed to form the government had not been established.

The plea argues that this amounts to an unconstitutional determination of majority outside the Assembly.

As suspense continues over whether Vijay's TVK will be able to form the government in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK General Secretary Edappaddi Palaniswami wrote a cryptic post on X, extending whoever forms government in the state.

"In the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections that have concluded successfully, candidates from various parties have contested and emerged victorious. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the party that will form the government in Tamil Nadu," he wrote in the post.

The stand of the Left parties has become clear, with both the CPI(M) and CPI submitting letters of support from their four MLAs to the Governor.

The Left parties stated that their decision to extend outside support to Vijay was aimed solely at preventing President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu and stopping the BJP from coming to power through the “backdoor.”

At the same time, both parties clarified that ideologically and politically, they continue to remain part of the DMK led alliance.

(Inputs from T Raghavan)

Uncertainty continues over the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s decision on extending support to TVK for government formation in Tamil Nadu.

The party has postponed its announcement on the matter till 4 pm, further intensifying political speculation in the state.

(Inputs from T Raghavan)

AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran on Saturday once again accused TVK of trying to lure and poach his party’s lone MLA through inducements amid the ongoing political developments in Tamil Nadu.

Addressing a press conference, Dhinakaran said that on Friday evening, AMMK MLA S Kamaraj had signed a letter extending support to a possible AIADMK led government. He claimed that his personal secretary had personally visited a resort in Puducherry to obtain Kamaraj’s signature on the support letter.

However, Dhinakaran said he later came to know that Vijay, while staking claim to form the government, had also mentioned the support of the AMMK MLA in his submission.

Following this, Dhinakaran met the Governor and lodged a complaint alleging that the letter claiming Kamaraj’s support to TVK was forged.

AIADMK leaders are holding a key meeting at the residence of General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, as suspense lingers on over the government formation in Tamil Nadu after Vijay's TVK failed to convince Governor Arlekar of majority support.

DMK leader TKS Elangovan on Friday said the Governor might have invited TVK to form the government had the party approached Raj Bhavan solely as the single largest party with 107 seats after accounting for Vijay vacating one constituency.

However, he argued that once TVK sought the support of other parties and its tally rose to 112, the Governor would naturally expect proof of an absolute majority before taking a decision.

“When they had approached the Governor first with 107 seats, because Vijay had contested from two constituencies, the Governor would have called them. But when they take some other party with them and the number becomes 112, the Governor will definitely say that they do not have a majority,” Elangovan said.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday dismissed reports claiming that Congress MLAs from Tamil Nadu were being shifted to Karnataka amid the political developments in the neighbouring state.

Shivakumar said he had not received any information from the Congress high command or party leaders regarding such a move. “Tamil Nadu Congress MLAs have not been shifted to Karnataka. I do not have any information regarding this,” he said.

In Chennai, police have been deployed outside the VCK office in Ashok Nagar as security arrangements were tightened ahead of a possible visit by Vijay. The development comes as Thol Thirumavalavan is expected to meet the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam TVK chief at the party office.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Friday accused political opponents of trying to prevent TVK chief Vijay from becoming the Chief Minister despite what he termed a clear mandate from the people of Tamil Nadu.

In a post on X, Tagore said forces rejected by voters were attempting to create hurdles in the government formation process. “Those who were defeated by the people are once again rearing their heads and attempting to prevent Mr Vijay from becoming Chief Minister. How many more obstacles are they going to create against the people's democratic choice?” he wrote.

The final batch of AIADMK MLAs staying at a resort in Puducherry has started departing for Chennai one by one amid hectic political developments in Tamil Nadu. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami is expected to chair a key meeting with party legislators at a secret location later in the day.

Tamil Nadu witnessed high drama on Friday night after Vijay’s efforts to form the government hit an unexpected hurdle over disputed support claims. What initially looked like a major breakthrough for TVK soon turned into political uncertainty following objections raised by TTV Dhinakaran and his party MLA. Read more

Sources indicate that Vijay is likely to meet VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan at the party office if the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi formally extends support to TVK in the ongoing government formation exercise.

The TTV Dhinakaran led AMMK is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11 am as political activity intensifies in Tamil Nadu over government formation and support claims.

Fresh controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu after TTV Dhinakaran alleged that TVK submitted a forged support letter to Governor RN Ravi. Claiming that his MLA S Kamaraj never backed TVK, Dhinakaran said he had presented the “real letter” issued in support of AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami during his meeting with the Governor.