DMK’s allies urge Governor to invite Vijay to form govt. Enough time should be given to the leader of the single-largest party to prove its majority. The Governor should respect the Constitution and act accordingly, says CPI leader M. Veerapandian In one voice: CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian, VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan; and MNM chief Kamal Haasan The Hindu Bureau CHENNAI Several allies of the DMK on Thursday said Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar should invite TVK president C. Joseph Vijay to form the government, as his party has emerged as the single-largest in the recent Assembly election. In a statement, CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian said that since there was no majority for any single party or alliance, and the TVK had emerged as the single-largest party by winning 108 seats, Mr. Vijay had met the Governor, staking claim to form a government. It was unfair to ask him to prove his majority immediately, he said, adding that Mr. Vijay should be given adequate time to do so on the floor of the House. Mr. Veerapandian also said the Supreme Court had, in S.R. Bommai vs Union of India and many other cases, said enough time should be given to the leader of the single-largest party to prove its majority. The Governor should respect the Constitution and act accordingly, he added. P. Shanmugam, State secretary of the CPI(M), said the Governor should invite Mr. Vijay to form the government, as no other political party had staked a claim to do so. In a statement, he said the people of Tamil Nadu had not granted a majority to any alliance in the election, but had elected the TVK as the single-largest party with 108 seats. “Mr. Vijay alone has staked a claim to form the government. But the BJP is using the Governor and taking a stand against the Constitution. That is why the Governor is delaying the opportunity for Mr. Vijay to form the government,” he alleged. Meanwhile, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said DMK president M.K. Stalin’s stand that the DMK would not block the TVK from forming the government was “most excellent, laudable and timely, and demonstrates his statesmanship”. MNM president Kamal Haasan said the verdict in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election was unprecedented, as no party had been given the mandate to form the government on its own. “My brother, Mr. Stalin, has said that we respect the people’s verdict, and that we will function as a responsible Opposition. I respect his political maturity. Now, those holding constitutional responsibility must also fulfil their duty. This is not a request, but a reminder of their constitutional obligation,” he said. “The TVK, led by Mr. Vijay, has won 108 seats. Not inviting him to form the government would amount to disrespecting the mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said. TNCC to protest Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai announced a Statewide protest at all the district headquarters on Friday. In a letter to the district presidents of the party, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said the TVK had emerged as the single-largest party in the Assembly. The Governor, instead of inviting it to form the government, had been acting as the “puppet of the BJP government at the Centre”, he added. Earlier, TVK leaders reached out to the VCK and the two Communist parties, seeking their support. “Mr. Vijay called me and sought our party’s support for forming the government,” said VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, adding that the actor-politician had also sent a formal letter. “We have to discuss the issue with the frontline leaders of the party. We are also continuously discussing it with the leaders of the Communist parties. We will take a decision together,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said. Mr. Veerapandian said TVK general secretary ‘Bussy’ Anand met him and sought his party’s support for government formation. Aadhav Arjuna, another TVK leader, was also in touch with Mr. Veerapandian. “However, in a Communist party, individuals cannot take decisions on political issues. We have convened a meeting of our State council on May 8 to take a decision on the matter,” Mr. Veerapandian said.

DMK’s allies urge Governor to invite Vijay to form govt.

Enough time should be given to the leader of the single-largest party to prove its majority. The Governor should respect the Constitution and act accordingly, says CPI leader M. Veerapandian

In one voice: CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian, VCK president

Thol. Thirumavalavan; and MNM chief Kamal Haasan

The Hindu Bureau

 

CHENNAI  08.05.2026

Several allies of the DMK on Thursday said Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar should invite TVK president C. Joseph Vijay to form the government, as his party has emerged as the single-largest in the recent Assembly election.

In a statement, CPI State secretary M. Veerapandian said that since there was no majority for any single party or alliance, and the TVK had emerged as the single-largest party by winning 108 seats, Mr. Vijay had met the Governor, staking claim to form a government. It was unfair to ask him to prove his majority immediately, he said, adding that Mr. Vijay should be given adequate time to do so on the floor of the House.

Mr. Veerapandian also said the Supreme Court had, in S.R. Bommai vs Union of India and many other cases, said enough time should be given to the leader of the single-largest party to prove its majority. The Governor should respect the Constitution and act accordingly, he added.

P. Shanmugam, State secretary of the CPI(M), said the Governor should invite Mr. Vijay to form the government, as no other political party had staked a claim to do so.

In a statement, he said the people of Tamil Nadu had not granted a majority to any alliance in the election, but had elected the TVK as the single-largest party with 108 seats. “Mr. Vijay alone has staked a claim to form the government. But the BJP is using the Governor and taking a stand against the Constitution. That is why the Governor is delaying the opportunity for Mr. Vijay to form the government,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, MDMK general secretary Vaiko said DMK president M.K. Stalin’s stand that the DMK would not block the TVK from forming the government was “most excellent, laudable and timely, and demonstrates his statesmanship”.

MNM president Kamal Haasan said the verdict in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election was unprecedented, as no party had been given the mandate to form the government on its own.

“My brother, Mr. Stalin, has said that we respect the people’s verdict, and that we will function as a responsible Opposition. I respect his political maturity. Now, those holding constitutional responsibility must also fulfil their duty. This is not a request, but a reminder of their constitutional obligation,” he said.

“The TVK, led by Mr. Vijay, has won 108 seats. Not inviting him to form the government would amount to disrespecting the mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

TNCC to protest

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai announced a Statewide protest at all the district headquarters on Friday.

In a letter to the district presidents of the party, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said the TVK had emerged as the single-largest party in the Assembly. The Governor, instead of inviting it to form the government, had been acting as the “puppet of the BJP government at the Centre”, he added.

Earlier, TVK leaders reached out to the VCK and the two Communist parties, seeking their support.

“Mr. Vijay called me and sought our party’s support for forming the government,” said VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, adding that the actor-politician had also sent a formal letter.

“We have to discuss the issue with the frontline leaders of the party. We are also continuously discussing it with the leaders of the Communist parties. We will take a decision together,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said.

Mr. Veerapandian said TVK general secretary ‘Bussy’ Anand met him and sought his party’s support for government formation. Aadhav Arjuna, another TVK leader, was also in touch with Mr. Veerapandian.

“However, in a Communist party, individuals cannot take decisions on political issues. We have convened a meeting of our State council on May 8 to take a decision on the matter,” Mr. Veerapandian said.