Congress offers support to TVK but with a condition

Congress offers support to TVK but with a condition

TNCC says TVK, which emerged as the single-largest party, should not seek support from BJP or its alliance partners; CPI(M) to take a call on backing Vijay, who is likely to call on the Governor today

TVK chief Vijay pays tribute to the party’s ideological leaders ahead of a meeting at the party headquarters in Chennai. PTI

N. Sai Charan

CHENNAI. 06.05.2026

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, on Tuesday reached out to the Congress and the CPI(M) — constituents of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance — seeking support to form the government in Tamil Nadu, after the party emerged as the single largest in the Assembly with 108 seats, short of a simple majority in the 234-member House.

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), after an online meeting with office-bearers, said it would extend support to the TVK subject to the condition that it should not seek the support of the lone BJP MLA-designate or any alliance partners of the BJP. The Congress won five seats in the election.

In New Delhi, All India Congress Committee general secretary K.C. Venugopal confirmed that the TVK had formally sought the Congress’s backing.

“The Congress is clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government, committed to protecting the Constitution in letter and spirit. The Congress is determined not to have the BJP or its proxies run the Tamil Nadu government. Accordingly, the party leadership has directed the TNCC to take a final decision on Mr. Vijay’s request, keeping in view the sentiments of the State reflected in the electoral verdict,” he said.

Mr. Venugopal said this after a meeting on the political situation in Tamil Nadu with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar, and other leaders.

However, it is not clear whether the Congress will extend outside support or will be part of the government. Since Mr. Vijay has to resign from one of the two constituencies (Perambur and Tiruchi East) he was elected from, effectively, the TVK would have 107 MLAs. This would bring down the strength of the House to 233. Thus, even if the Congress decides to support the TVK, the party would need the support of five more MLAs to cross the halfway mark.

The TVK approached the CPI(M), which won two seats, for support through party MP Su. Venkatesan. “TVK strategist Jhon Arokiasamy approached Mr. Venkatesan on Tuesday. But only our party’s State committee can take a decision,” said CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam. The party’s State committee meeting is scheduled to be held on Friday.

According to sources, Mr. Vijay and senior leaders of the party have sought an appointment to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Wednesday.