108 MLAs Not Enough: Vijay Knocks on the Governor's Door for the Third Time

The corridors of Raj Bhavan have become an unlikely stage for political theatre in Tamil Nadu, where a film star's dream of governance hangs by the slender thread of a single MLA's support.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor RV Arlekar for the third time in as many days on Saturday, staking claim to form the next government at the Lok Bhavan, even as the deadlock over government formation shows no sign of breaking.

The crux of the crisis is arithmetical. Vijay's TVK emerged as the single largest political party in the 234-member assembly, winning 108 seats, but fell short of the majority mark of 118 MLAs required to form the government.

Both previous meetings, on Wednesday and Thursday, ended with Arlekar dismissing Vijay's claim, maintaining that the TVK leader does not command the required support in the House.

Two of TVK's potential allies have dealt significant blows to Vijay's prospects. The IUML and AMMK have made it clear that they will not back the party, leaving Vijay scrambling for numbers.

The left parties and Congress had offered a degree of hope. The CPI and CPI(M), which hold two seats each, and Congress, with five seats, had already extended their support to Vijay's TVK, positioning it as a potential alternative to the traditional Dravidian DMK-AIADMK duopoly that has long dominated Tamil Nadu politics.

Yet the numbers still fall short.

DMK leader TKS Elangovan was blunt in his criticism of Vijay's repeated visits to the Governor.

"He should first try with other political parties and then approach the Governor. If AMMK MLAs are not supporting TVK, then why should he give a letter of support?," he said.

Will VCK's Two Seats Be the Decisive Factor in Tamil Nadu's Government Formation?

The position of the VCK, which holds two assembly seats, remains a closely watched variable.

MLA-elect Vanniarasu said Saturday that the party wants the people's mandate honoured, while carefully stopping short of committing to a definitive stance.

"The party would abide by the decision taken by VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan. The decision taken by our leader is the party's stand," he told reporters.

Vanniarasu was, however, pointed in his criticism of the Governor's conduct.

“Neither the party nor I have criticised anyone out of personal hatred," he said, adding, "Our criticism has only been political. We do not accept the Governor's rule. We want the people's rule to continue and be established. The Governor's actions are against the Constitution."

For Vijay and TVK, the political reality could not be more frustrating.

One MLA separates ambition from authority, and as three days of gubernatorial meetings have demonstrated, proximity to power is no substitute for a majority on the floor of the House.

(With inputs from ANI)