'Majority Not Established': Why Tamil Nadu Governor Turned Down Vijay's Claim To Form Govt Twice

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Thursday declined TVK chief Vijay’s government formation bid, citing that the party has not been able to establish the necessary majority support in the Legislative Assembly.

The Lok Bhavan’s press release stated, “Thiru Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Hon’ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, has invited Thiru C. Joseph Vijay, President, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, today (7.5.2026) to Lok Bhavan, Chennai. During the meeting, the Hon’ble Governor explained that the requisite majority support in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, essential for forming the Government, has not been established.”

Vijay’s Number Game

Vijay gave a blockbuster performance in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections with his party garnering 108 seats. But it was 10 seats short

of the majority mark of 118.

After Congress extended its support, the newly-formed alliance had 113 seats, which was still 5 seats short. The party had also extended an invitation to CPI and VCK to join the alliance, but they have not yet decided.

Also Read: The 118 Puzzle: Why A DMK-AIADMK Alliance May Not Be As Mathematically Convincing As It Seems

However, Vijay requested the Governor to invite him to form the government and stated in the letter that the party would be able to prove a majority in the floor test after two weeks.

What Did The Governor Say To Vijay?

Vijay first met the governor on Wednesday evening, during which the Governor voiced his discomfort with TVK’s number game.

The TVK chief on Thursday asked the governor to reconsider their request to form the government.

While asking the governor to reconsider their request to form the government, TVK has said that there has been a precedent of the single largest party staking a claim to form the government without a majority.

TVK told the Governor they are confident of proving the numbers on the floor of the House.

Also Read: ‘Won’t Disturb TVK For 6 Months’: MK Stalin Says Will Wait For Vijay To Form Govt, Ends AIADMK Alliance Buzz

According to the sources, the governor was not convinced by TVK’s government formation bid and wanted the party to prove the 118-mark.

The governor asked Vijay if he was staking his claim based on the assumption that smaller parties may extend support and questioned the stability of the government.

The governor asked Vijay to show how he will prove a majority on the floor of the house and letters of support from the parties that he has indicated are supporting him.

The Tamil Nadu unit of the CPI appealed to the governor to follow constitutional conventions and asserted that it was “inappropriate” to ask Vijay to prove a majority before swearing in.

According to sources, the TVK may approach the Madras High Court to push its bid for the government formations if the governor continues to say that he is still not convinced.

TVK stunned the ‘Dravidian’ parties in the state, bringing to an end the DMK-AIADMK three-decade-old ‘duopoly’.