"MK Stalin Persuaded Allies": DMK On How Vijay Got A Majority

Actor-turned-politican Vijay will be elevated to Tamil Nadu's top post after outgoing Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin persuaded allied to join hands with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), DMK spokesperson A Sarvanan said.

"Congratulations to the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Vijay. He has been able to become the chief minister with the help of DMK allies. Our leader MK Stalin does not want a constitutional crisis and he persuaded allies (to join hands with the TVK) after extensive consultations," Sarvanan added.

Hitting out at the Congress, which was first to switch from INDI alliance partner DMK to lend their support to TVK, Sarvanan said the party won its five seats only because of the hard work put in by the Stalin-led party's cadres on ground.

Also Read | In Vijay's Delicate Coalition Tango, DMK Holds Some Strings

On Saturday night, a week of uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu came to an end, with the TVK garnering support it needed after it ended up as the single largest party at 108 seats but remained shy of the majority mark by 10 seats. Further, Vijay won from Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli East, but had to relinquish one of the seats, bringing the party tally down to 107.

The TVK then got support from Congress (5), and the CPI and CPI (M) with two MLAs each, taking the alliance strength to 116.

The breakthrough came as Vijay finally managed to secure the support of four MLAs of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Saturday, taking the strength to 120, past the simple majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Assembly. He then went to meet Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar in as many days to discuss government formation.

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He submitted a letter informing about his election as the leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam Legislature party. He has also submitted letters received from the Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK and IUML extending their support to form the government under his leadership.

The Governor then appointed Vijay as CM and invited him to form the state Cabinet and asked the TVK chief to face the vote of confidence on or before May 13.

Vijay will take oath as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at 10 am on Sunday at Chennai's Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. His will be the first non-DMK, non-AIADMDK government in 60 years.

DMK's allies, including the VCK, have made it clear that they continue to be part of the Dravidian party-led alliance. Parties, including VCK, will not be part of the government and they offer "outside support". Vijay, on his part, has been open to accommodate allies in his cabinet, in sync with VCK's stated position of power-sharing.