Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (right) meets TVK chief Vijay in connection with securing an invite from the latter to form the government, at the Lok Bhavan, in Chennai on Saturday (May 9). Photo: PTI
LIVE! Vijay to be sworn in at 10 am on May 10; Kharge, Rahul to decide on Kerala CM
TVK stakes claim to form TN govt with 120 seats in its kitty; Congress meet on picking Kerala CM inconclusive; Suvendu Adhikari takes charge as West Bengal CM
Vijay’s 'numbers nightmare' is officially over. After a week-long scramble following his massive electoral debut, the actor-turned-politician has finally secured a majority (120), paving the way for Tamil Nadu’s first-ever coalition government with Vijay as Chief Minister.
Here is the TVK alliance break-up: 107 seats; Congress - 5; CPI - 2; CPM - 2; VCK- 2 seats; IUML - 2 seats
The breakthrough came when the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) officially pledged their support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), after days of uncertainty and alleged bargaining over plum posts.
Vijay is now meeting Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar after the latter cancelled his visit to Kerala.
Suvendu takes over as Bengal CM
BJP legislature party leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the chief minister of West Bengal on Saturday (May 9), heading the first BJP government in the state.Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari at a grand ceremony held at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, chief ministers of NDA-ruled states and senior BJP leaders. The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress' 15-year rule in the state.
Here is a recap of all that happened in TN
In the Assembly elections, TVK won 108 constituencies, including Vijay's two seats, and emerged as the single largest party. TVK founder Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won, as per EC norms.
This reduces his party’s effective tally to 107. However, following hectic negotiations over the last few days, TVK managed to secure the support of Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML, taking its total to 120, well past the majority mark of 118.
Meanwhile, in a late-night development amid the negotiations on Friday, AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran denied that his party had extended support to Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and said it continues to remain in the NDA. The leader also accused the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam of submitting a "forged letter" to the Governor, falsely claiming support from AMMK’s sole MLA-elect, Kamaraj.
Vijay, who has already staked the claim to form the government, had a brief meeting with the Governor late Friday evening, their third in as many days.
Later, Vijay visited the offices of the CPI and the CPI (M) and thanked the Left leaders for their support for his party to form the government. It was his first visit to the Communist parties' offices. Left parties have asserted that they will support the TVK in forming the government while continuing their alliance with the DMK on broader political issues.
The Left parties, both part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, said that the decision was taken in order to prevent BJP's "backdoor entry" into the state. They will continue with the DMK on the issue of state’s rights. The Communist parties announced that they will not be a part of the TVK cabinet.
West Bengal: What Suvendu said
West Bengal's chief minister-elect Suvendu Adhikari said the days of 'Sonar Bangla' have officially started with Saturday marking the beginning of a new era of "peace and prosperity" under a "double-engine" administration as the state's first BJP government is set to take charge.
"Today marks the end of decades of misrule and the beginning of a double-engine era of development, peace, and prosperity. The era of 'Sonar Bangla' officially begins," Adhikari posted on X. The BJP, which secured a sweeping victory in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly elections, is set to form its maiden government in the state.
Scroll down for all the LIVE updates
Live Updates
- 9 May 2026 7:48 PM IST
TVK's Vijay to be sworn-in as Chief Minister on May 10
After a long suspense, TVK chief C Joseph Vijay is set to take oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on May 10 at 3.15 pm with the support of 120 MLAs backing the new government.A total of 10 ministers will be sworn in along with Vijay. - 9 May 2026 7:41 PM IST
Kerala CM suspense continues
The Congress party’s meeting to finalise Kerala’s next chief minister ended inconclusively.
Party in-charge for the state, Deepa Dasmunsi, said there is time until May 23 to appoint the new CM and that the high command will take a final decision “in due time”.
She also urged Congress workers in Kerala to refrain from the “unruly scenes witnessed in the state yesterday”.
- 9 May 2026 7:34 PM IST
Our support to TVK is to prevent President's rule: Thol Thirumavalavan
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Saturday (May 9) announced his party's decision to support Vijay's TVK in government formation to prevent President's rule in Tamil Nadu and also ensure people's mandate for TVK was fulfilled.
Due to the prevailing uncertainty in government formation, especially with the TVK lacking the simple majority to form the government on its own, and no other political party anywhere close to the magic number of 118 seats, it was necessary to support the TVK in its efforts to form the government, Thirumavalavan said.
Barely hours after handing over the support letter to TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi founder said his party's decision, as he had mentioned earlier, was in sync with the decision of the Left parties.
"Our ties with the DMK will not get affected due to our stand, but it will help Vijay to form the government and also prevent the President's rule in the state," Thirumavalavan said at a crowded press conference.
He added that he continued in DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.
His party's stance was already conveyed to DMK chief M K Stalin, who had agreed to the unanimous decision of the VCK and the Left parties, he said.
"We exercised our freedom as a political party and also took into account the long-term vision of the state and extended the unconditional support to TVK," the VCK leader said.
- 9 May 2026 7:23 PM IST
Watch | Why did VCK delay support to Vijay till the very end?
TVK emerged as the single largest party but fell short of the majority mark. After five days of suspense, VCK extended support with its 2 MLAs, helping Vijay move closer to forming the government. Political negotiations, alliance calculations and last-minute meetings kept Tamil Nadu on edge till the final decision. - 9 May 2026 7:20 PM IST
Congress top brass huddles in Delhi over Kerala govt formation, CM choice
Top Congress leadership on Saturday (May 9) got into a huddle to decide on the party's government formation in Kerala and select the chief ministerial face in the southern state, where the United Democratic Front (UDF) won with a thumping majority.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge convened a meeting of top party leaders from Kerala, where former party chief Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretary in-charge for Kerala Deepa Dasmunshi and AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal were also present.
Among others present were Congress' Kerala unit chief Sunny Joseph, leader of opposition in the outgoing Kerala assembly V D Satheesan and former Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala.
The top leadership is set to discuss the report from the party observers who were sent to hold talks with all party MLAs on their choice for the chief minister's post, sources said.
The Congress had earlier taken a principled stand not to field any sitting MP in the Kerala assembly election, even though many were keen to contest.
- 9 May 2026 7:18 PM IST
No decision on Kerala CM today
Congress defers decision on its next Chief Minister in Kerala. (Details awaited)
- 9 May 2026 5:36 PM IST
With required majority numbers, Vijay leaves to meet TN Governor Arlekar
After securing the required numbers to form government in Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay left for Lok Bhavan in Chennai to call on Governor Rajendra Arlekar. The TVK has now 120 seats with it, two more than the required magic number of 118 to form the government.
Besides the TVK's own 107 MLAs (Vijay won two seats, he would vacate one), the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and the IUML have extended the actor-politician support to form the next government.
- 9 May 2026 5:33 PM IST
'Congress MLAs who contested on alliance behalf did not come to DMK headquarters'
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Saturday made a long post on X in which, apart from vowing that his party would play the role of a constructive opposition, he mentioned about the allies. Recalling that the Congress severed ties with the DMK after the elections, Stalin said communist leaders Comrade Shanmugam and Comrade Veerapandian, along with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi party leader, Thol. Thirumavalavan, announced that they will continue to join hands with the DMK and fight for the rights of Tamil Nadu and the welfare of the people.
"The Congress MLAs who contested and won on behalf of the alliance did not come to Anna Arivalayam to express their thanks. On the same day, the Congress party severed ties with the DMK and proceeded. At the same time, Communist leaders Comrade Shanmugam and Comrade Veerapandian, along with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi party leader Thirumavalavan, have announced that they will continue to join hands with the DMK and fight for the rights of Tamil Nadu and the welfare of the people, thereby expressing a sense of camaraderie and demonstrating their trust in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which is strong in policy," Stalin said in his post.
"Whatever decision our allied parties take, I believed that we should respect their decision, act in coordination, ensure a stable government is formed, and not pave the way for another election," the DMK supremo further said.
- 9 May 2026 5:21 PM IST
DMK will play constructive opposition role, says former CM Stalin
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and former Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin issued a detailed statement on Saturday, saying his party would function as a constructive opposition and not obstruct the formation of a stable government. Stalin, who served as the CM between 2021 and 2026, failed to lead his party-led alliance to its second successive victory, and the DMK ended up as the second-largest party with 59 seats. Tamilaga Vettri Kazgaham, led by Vijay, is set to form the next government, a coalition one, featuring the Congress, VCK, Left parties and the IUML.
Stalin also thanked his alliance partners that stood firmly with the DMK all these years and requested the new government to continue with welfare schemes for people.
In a detailed post on X in which he touched upon these issues, Stalin said, "In the interview I had already given to the press, I had stated that we would not obstruct the formation of a new government and that the DMK would function as a constructive opposition party.
"In a situation where no one secured the majority to form a government, many put forward alternative ideas. As far as I am concerned, whatever decision our allied parties take, I believed that we should respect their decision, act in coordination, ensure a stable government is formed, and not pave the way for another election."
- 9 May 2026 5:17 PM IST
Shivakumar denies shifting TN Congress MLAs to Karnataka
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday rejected reports that Congress MLAs from Tamil Nadu had been shifted to a resort in Karnataka amid post-election political developments in Chennai. He said he was unaware of any such move.
Political activity in Tamil Nadu has intensified following the Assembly election results of May 4, with parties engaged in consultations over government formation and support arrangements.
Amid speculation about legislators being moved to resorts in other states and ongoing political negotiations, internal party discussions and interactions between senior leaders have continued. However, no official confirmation has been made regarding any such relocation of MLAs.
Rejecting claims that five Tamil Nadu MLAs had arrived at Eagleton Resort near Bengaluru, Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, said, "All of that is false. No MLAs have come to Eagleton Resort. I am not aware of it."
The Congress, which won five seats in the Tamil Nadu polls, extended support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam of Vijay, who is now set to become the next chief minister of the state.
