Vijay has support of 116, 117 or 118 MLAs? Lok Bhavan sources clarify
It was believed that Vijay's TVK had finally reached the 118 magic number, with support from the Congress, the Left, and the expected backing of the VCK. But the Tamil Nadu drama took another turn late in the night.
It seemed to be a done deal for Vijay's TVK when he met the Tamil Nadu Governor on Friday for a third time in three days to stake a claim to form the government. It was believed that the TVK finally reached the 118 magic number, with support from the Congress (5), Left (4) and the expected backing of the IUML and VCK. However, the Tamil Nadu drama took another turn as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar sent Vijay back again. Lok Bhavan sources told India Today that Vijay's numbers were still short of the required majority mark.
Lok Bhavan sources said Vijay submitted letters of support from 117 MLAs on Friday. This included the 107 MLAs of the TVK, which emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly. While the TVK won 108 seats, Vijay is expected to vacate one of the two seats he won, reducing the party's effective strength to 107. The Jana Nayagan star also submitted the signatures of five Congress MLAs, four Left MLAs, and one AMMK MLA.
THE VIJAY-GOVERNOR MEET
Vijay sought an 11 am swearing-in on Saturday. However, a call within 30 minutes by AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran to the Governor complicated matters. Dhinakaran told the Governor that the signature of the lone AMMK MLA submitted in support of Vijay was forged.
In the meantime, the TVK tried to reach out to the AMMK MLA Kamaraj. However, he doesn't respond.
Within an hour, the AMMK MLA surfaced in Chennai. Accompanied by Dhinakaran, the duo met the Governor and complained of horse trading by Vijay's TVK. The AMMK MLA purportedly said the signature was not his. Dhinakaran told the Governor that AMMK was firmly part of the NDA.
Sources said this brought the effective tally down to 116, two short of the majority mark.
Meanwhile, the TVK released a video purportedly showing Kamaraj writing a letter extending support to Vijay's TVK.
VCK ADDS SUSPENSE TO VIJAY DRAMA
The drama wasn't done yet.
Lok Bhavan sources said that the VCK, part of the DMK alliance, had not submitted any letter of support to the Governor.
Amid reports that the VCK had sent its support through email, Lok Bhavan sources said it had not been received by the Governor.
On Friday, the VCK had slammed Vijay as "arrogant" for allegedly seeking support through WhatsApp texts instead of personally reaching out to the leadership.
Late at night, the IUML, which has two MLAs, denied extending support to Vijay and said it was firmly with the DMK.
It effectively meant that Vijay was again short of numbers and there would be no swearing-in on Saturday.
Lok Bhavan sources said the Governor told Vijay to return with the signatures of 118 MLAs, and he would then be invited to take oath as the chief minister immediately.
The Tamil Nadu potboiler seems to be getting more unpredictable by the hour.