Live: Governor unconvinced about TVK numbers, Vijay's oath in doubt: Report
Earlier, Congress offered support to TVK, dumping its long-time ally DMK
The Congress party, a long-time ally of the DMK, on Wednesday (May 6) announced support to actor-politician Vijay's TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu and severed ties with the Dravidian major.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) have decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government, AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar said in a statement, citing TVK chief Vijay's request seeking support.
Also read: Vijay doesn't have to 'prove' his majority since Constitution never asked him to
He said: "Our support shall be conditional upon the TVK keeping out from this alliance any communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India.
This alliance between the TVK and the Tamil Nadu Congress will strive to bring back Perunthalaivar Kamaraj's glory days of Tamil Nadu, with a strong commitment to Thanthai Periyar's social justice ideals and Dr BR Ambedkar's constitutional ideals in the years and decades to come.
This alliance - founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two parties is not only for the formation of this government, but also for future elections to the local body organisations, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha."
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Live Updates
- 6 May 2026 8:08 PM IST
No support to TVK, says AIADMK
With TVK falling short of the halfway mark, Vijay needs the support of at least 10 MLAs to reach a simple majority and form a government. Amid hectic parleys and discussions, AIADMK leader KP Munusamy has denied extending support to TVK. He also said that reports on support for TVK are false.
- 6 May 2026 6:05 PM IST
TN governor unconvinced TVK has secured majority, no swearing-in tomorrow: Report
TVK chief Vijay may not be sworn in on Thursday (May 7), with an NDTV report indicating the Tamil Nadu governor is unconvinced the party has secured a majority. Despite Congress pledging support, the numbers remain short.
Earlier in the day, Vijay met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to stake claim. TVK, which won 108 seats, needs 118 for a majority. Congress’s five seats raise the tally to 112, but one of Vijay’s two wins is excluded, leaving a gap of six.
The next step will be proving majority on the floor. While independents and smaller allies like the VCK are weighing options, clarity on who else will join TVK is still awaited.
- 6 May 2026 5:01 PM IST
Cong considered alliance with TVK even before polls: Karti Chidambaram
Senior Congress leader Karti Chidambaram has said there were voices within his party favouring an alliance with Vijay’s TVK even before the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
However, he said the party leadership, after consulting all stakeholders, decided to continue its alliance with the DMK.
“Many felt that the long-standing relationship with the DMK has to be respected,” he said, adding, “We want a secular government, and there can be no compromise on that.”
Karti also made it clear that the Congress has only an electoral alliance with the DMK and was not part of the government. However, he said the Congress can still work with the DMK at the national level. - 6 May 2026 4:42 PM IST
VCK yet to decide; Left, IUML rule out support to TVK
With the TVK approaching political parties in Tamil Nadu seeking support to form a government, the VCK, an ally of the DMK, was yet to take a decision.
However, despite TVK’s invitation, the Left parties and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) ruled out their support for Vijay’s party. The CPI(M), CPI and IUML legislators asserted that they would continue to support the DMK.
The VCK has won two seats. “It will be decided by our party president, Thol Thirumavalavan,” a senior party functionary told PTI. - 6 May 2026 4:16 PM IST
Oath taking ceremony of new BJP govt in West Bengal on May 9
West Bengal BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya on Wednesday announced that the oath-taking ceremony of the new BJP government in West Bengal will be held on May 9.
Addressing reporters, Bhattacharya said the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at Brigade Parade Ground in central Kolkata at 10 a.m.
“The new BJP Government will take oath on May 9 at 10 a.m.,” he said.
The announcement comes after the BJP registered a decisive victory in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections, bringing an end to the 15-year rule of the All India Trinamool Congress in the state.
- 6 May 2026 3:46 PM IST
Jothimani defends Congress-TVK tie-up amid DMK criticism
Congress MP Jothimani on Wednesday defended her party’s decision to align with Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, responding to criticism from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
In a detailed post on X, she argued that “In politics, alliances forming and breaking is only natural,” describing shifting political equations as part of democratic life.
Jothimani pointed to 2014, when the DMK had “expelled” Congress from their alliance just before the parliamentary polls, leaving the party to contest alone. At the time, she said, Congress treated it as a “political stance” and chose not to react with bitterness.
Explaining the new tie-up with TVK, she said alliances inevitably go through “ups and downs,” including public disagreements. Even so, she insisted the latest decision was made keeping “the welfare and future of Tamil Nadu” at the centre.
She also called for both parties to part ways with “mutual respect,” adding that it was never Congress culture to attack former allies with “extreme ferocity.”
Backing party leader Rahul Gandhi, Jothimani said he needed no “certificate of good conduct,” asserting that the country already knows his political strength.
- 6 May 2026 3:39 PM IST
Vijay meets Governor, stakes claim to form govt in TN
TVK chief Vijay has met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and staked claim to form a government. The TVK founder met the governor at 3.30 pm.
Vijay on Tuesday sent an email communication to the Lok Bhavan staking his claim to form the government backed by his party MLAs and exuded confidence of proving the majority.
A source in the TVK told PTI he had written a fresh letter on the subject and also requested the Governor to have the swearing-in ceremony at 11.30 am on May 7. - 6 May 2026 3:20 PM IST
Tamil Nadu alliance Talks intensify as CPI, Congress react to TVK's outreach
As alliance talks gather pace in Tamil Nadu, political parties are beginning to publicly outline their positions on possible new combinations involving Vijay's TVK.
The discussion gained momentum after CPI general secretary D. Raja confirmed receiving a letter from TVK, while Congress MP Sashikanth Senthil strongly defended his party’s evolving alliance strategy.
Raja said the CPI would take a decision only after consulting its Tamil Nadu unit.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Senthil said, “Alliances in politics are inherently responsive to changing priorities and public mood,” arguing that political partnerships naturally change with circumstances. Referring to Congress’ long association with the DMK, he said both parties had benefitted under leaders such as Rahul Gandhi and M. K. Stalin.
He added that strategic political decisions should not be seen as unusual. “Even while parting ways, there must be mutual respect,” Senthil wrote, cautioning against bitter public criticism between former allies as Tamil Nadu’s political landscape begins to shift.
