- Superstar Vijay's TVK party to lead Tamil Nadu's first coalition government
- Coalition allies will receive ministerial berths in the new government
- VCK will get one ministerial post while CPI and CPM will get two berths
Superstar Vijay will head Tamil Nadu's first-ever coalition government as his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party secures a majority with the backing from smaller parties. As per coalition modalities, the smaller allies may also get representation in the cabinet—meaning ministerial berths, sources say.
The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) will get one ministerial post, they say, with VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan likely to join the cabinet himself. The Congress also expects two ministerial berths, sources had earlier said, after it offered conditional support to TVK at the cost of upsetting the DMK.
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The left parties, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), have decided to back Vijay but stay out of the cabinet.
"If the government is not formed by 10th May, Governor's rule will be imposed. In Tamil Nadu, Governor's rule is like the BJP entering through backdoor. To stop this, CPI and CPI(M) have decided to support TVK. We will not be in the cabinet. Just to ensure there is no re-election, we took this decision," CPI(M) state secretary TT Shanmugam told reporters today.
The VCK, CPI, and CPM—having two MLAs each—extended their support to the TVK today after discussions at the highest level. They too had been DMK allies earlier and given a free hand by DMK chief MK Stalin to decide on their alliances based on their political interests.
Besides, Vijay has also claimed the support of one of the two IUML MLAs and the lone winning candidate of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), led by politician TTV Dhinakaran.
Read: 'Thalapathy' Vijay Wins Again. TVK Crosses 118-Mark With VCK, Left Support
On its own, the TVK had won 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu elections, while the DMK was reduced to just 59 and the AIADMK could win only 47 seats.
The TVK's strength in the assembly goes up to 121 now with support from the smaller allies, well past the 118 halfway mark. Its account now comprises 108 seats of TVK, Congress (5), VCK (2), CPI (2), CPM (2), IUML (1), and AMMK (1).
Vijay securing a majority ends the stalemate with Governor RV Arlekar, who was earlier unconvinced that he had required numbers to form government.
