The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) on Saturday extended unconditional support to the Joseph Vijay-led Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form a government in Tamil Nadu.
With the support of VCK’s two MLAs, the TVK-led bloc will now have 119 backers, one more than the 118 majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Confirming the development, TVK leader Adhav Arjuna told reporters that the VCK had formally extended support to the party. Calling it a “victory”, he thanked the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan for backing the TVK and expressed confidence that party founder Vijay would become the next chief minister, news agency PTI reported.
According to documents shared by the VCK, legislature party leader Vanni Arasu submitted a letter to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar conveying the party’s “unconditional support” to TVK for government formation.
In the letter dated May 9, 2026, Arasu said the VCK legislature party was extending support to “Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam under the leadership of its President and Legislative Party Leader, Mr. C. Joseph Vijay”.
The letter added that the support was being extended following the Assembly election results “in the interest of stable and democratic governance for the people of Tamil Nadu”.
A separate supporting document listed the names of the two VCK MLAs backing the move — Vanni Arasu from Tindivanam and L E Jothimani from Kattumannarkoil.
Another letter signed by VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan also informed the Governor about the party’s decision to support TVK in forming the government.
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Thirumavalavan said the VCK had decided to support TVK to ensure government formation in the state and prevent the political situation from leading to President’s rule.
“The political crisis in Tamil Nadu should not become a cause for the implementation of President’s rule,” the VCK chief said.
According to PTI, the VCK said the party would, for now, extend outside support to TVK.
TVK emerged as the single largest part with 108 seats in its debut Assembly elections but fell short of the majority mark. Vijay, who won from two constituencies, is expected to vacate one seat, which will further reduce the party’s tally to 107.
The shortfall meant that the TVK could not form a government on its own strength, setting off hectic parleys with other parties to make up the numbers. The Congress, which contested the elections in an alliance with the NK Stalin-led Dravid Munetra Kazhagam as part of the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, dumped its pre-poll partner following the results, and was the first party to throw in its lot with the TVK. This has led to acrimony between the two parties, with the DMK writing to the Lok Sabha seater asking for a change of seating arrangements away from the Congress. DMK leaders have also publicly accused the Congress of ‘back-stabbing’.
The support from Congress, which has five MLAs, along with CPI, CPI(M), and VCK, all with two MLAs each, has now taken the alliance’s effective strength to 119. After securing the numbers required to form the government, Vijay left for Lok Bhavan to call on Governor Arlekar.
