Road clear for Vijay to be Tamil Nadu CM as VCK, IUML finally extend support

The last hurdle for actor-politician Vijay to stake a claim to form the government and become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu ended on Saturday after the VCK and IUML extended unconditional support to the TVK. Both IUML and VCK, which won two seats each, kept Vijay and Tamil Nadu on a knife-edge after the Jana Nayagan star failed to show he had the support of 118 MLAs, the minimum required to form a government in Tamil Nadu, in his three meetings with the Governor in three days.

With the backing of VCK and IUML, Vijay now has the support of 121 MLAs. The development ends four days of intense political negotiations after Vijay's TVK, a two-year-old party, upstaged Dravidian behemoths like DMK and AIADMK to emerge as the single largest party with 108 seats. Effectively, the TVK's strength is 107, as Vijay will have to vacate one of the two seats he won.

VIJAY GETS 118 MAGIC NUMBER

The Congress, which won five seats, was among the first parties to firmly back the TVK after it dumped the DMK, its ally of two decades. On Friday, the Left, with its four MLAs, extended support. Now, with the VCK and IUML officially backing Vijay, the TVK has the support of 120 MLAs.

Here's the math: 108 (TVK) + 5 (Congress) + 4 (Left) + 2 (VCK) + 2 (IUML) = 121.

However, until last night, uncertainty prevailed after VCK's letter supporting Vijay did not reach Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan was allegedly upset after Vijay sought support through WhatsApp texts instead of personally reaching out to the party.

The IUML also played hardball, saying it was firmly with the DMK. Things started moving on Saturday morning after TVK leaders met the VCK chief and the IUML leadership.

While the VCK provided unconditional support, party leader Vanni Arasu told local media that a call on whether they would be part of the government would be taken later. However, Arasu stressed that the party wanted Thirumavalavan to contest from the seat that Vijay vacates and eventually become the Deputy CM.

The path for Vijay to cobble up a post-poll coalition has not been easy. Speculation also gained ground on an unlikely alliance between arch-rivals DMK and AIAMDK to form the government to keep Vijay out. However, it fizzled out as smaller parties started to gravitate towards Vijay.

MET GOVERNOR 3 TIMES IN 3 DAYS

The Tamil star, fondly called 'Thalapathy' by his fans, met the Governor three times for three consecutive days to stake a claim to form the government. However, each time, he was sent back as TVK did not have the requisite numbers.

It tested the politicking abilities of Vijay. A section argued that the several visits to the Raj Bhavan were an attempt by Vijay to gain sympathy.

Some opposition leaders also accused the Governor of acting under pressure from the BJP-led Centre to stall the constitutional process - a claim denied by the Raj Bhavan.

Several constitutional experts and advocates underscored that the Governor was "constitutionally bound" to invite the single largest party first.

On Friday, it seemed to be a done deal. But it turned out to be a case of so near yet so far. At the centre of the controversy was a lone AMMK MLA, Kamaraj.

During his meeting with the Governor on Friday, Vijay submitted the letter of support from the AMMK MLA. However, within 30 minutes, AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran met the Governor and claimed that the signature of the MLA was forged.

Dhinakaran said the AMMK was firmly with the NDA. Meanwhile, the TVK released a video purportedly showing Kamaraj writing a letter extending support to the party.

This left Vijay stranded at 116 MLAs. However, it turned out to be a blockbuster Saturday for Vijay after the VCK and IUML eventually extended support. The Vijay era is set to begin.