VCK To Get 1 Ministry In Vijay's Cabinet, Left To Get 2: Sources

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 will also have representation in the cabinet—meaning ministerial berths, sources say.

While the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) will get one ministerial post, two will be kept for the left parties—the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), they say.

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VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan is 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.

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.