Tamil Nadu Guv Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar Denies Appointment to Vijay Despite TVK Majority Claim

Political uncertainty deepened in Tamil Nadu on Friday after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar reportedly denied an appointment to Vijay even as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), claimed it had crossed the majority mark needed to form the government.

The development came hours after TVK secured open support from Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), taking the alliance tally to 120 MLAs in the 234-member Assembly.

TVK had emerged as the single largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections with 108 seats but initially fell short of the 118-seat majority mark. The backing from alliance partners appeared to clear the final hurdle for Vijay's first government formation bid.

However, despite the numbers, Raj Bhavan has yet to formally invite Vijay to stake claim to power.

Sources said TVK sought a meeting with the Governor after submitting letters of support from allied MLAs. But reports indicated that Vijay was not granted an immediate appointment, further intensifying the constitutional and political debate surrounding the government formation process.

The Governor is believed to have insisted on clear proof of majority support before initiating the swearing-in process. Opposition leaders and constitutional experts, however, argued that the single largest party should be allowed to prove its majority on the Assembly floor rather than through extended scrutiny at Raj Bhavan.

The political drama was further amplified by a controversy involving an Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) MLA. TVK initially claimed support from AMMK legislator S Kamaraj, but party chief T. T. V. Dhinakaran accused TVK of submitting a forged support letter to the Governor.

TVK later released a video allegedly showing Kamaraj signing the letter, though the MLA denied its authenticity and claimed the footage was AI-generated.

Meanwhile, VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan defended his party's support to TVK, saying the decision was taken to respect the people's mandate and prevent political instability in the state.

As the standoff continues, TVK workers have begun celebrations across Chennai, convinced that Vijay's swearing-in is only a matter of time. Yet, with the Governor withholding an invitation and legal petitions reaching the Supreme Court, Tamil Nadu's power transition remains unresolved for now.