The post-election political climate in Tamil Nadu was turned upside down on Thursday (May 7, 2026) after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leadership began toying with the idea of extending external support to its arch-rival, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – a prospect that would have been unthinkable a week ago.
Govt. formation LIVE update – May 7th
In a related development, Lok Bhavan reported that Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar had invited Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam President C. Joseph Vijay and “explained that the requisite majority support in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, necessary to form the government, had not been established”.
While Mr Vijay and senior party leaders reached out to DMK allies – the Communist Party of India, the CPI(M) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, which have two seats each – DMK president MK Stalin is also learned to have floated the idea of supporting the AIADMK-led government with the three parties.
It is now clear that these three parties hold the key to any further ebb and flow in Tamil Nadu politics. In fact, their joint support for both TVK and AIADMK is essential to form the government.
Currently, the TVK, with the support of five elected Congress candidates, effectively has 112 seats in the 234-member House after factoring in the legal mandate for Mr. Vijay to step down from one of his two seats.
If the AIADMK aspired to form a government without the support of a single BJP representative, it would require the support of its other allies Pattali Makkal Katchi (4) and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (1) in addition to the support of the DMK (59), the All India Muslim League (2) and the six CPI-CPI(M)-VV seats. This would give the alliance 120 seats.
Mr. Stalin, the outgoing chief minister who initially rejected the proposal to support the AIADMK, reportedly bowed to pressure from second-line party leaders and invited CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam, CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian and VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan to his house for discussion. The DMK would not enter the government, but the allies are free to decide to enter the government, he allegedly told them.
While the two Communist parties bid for time and said the state committee meetings scheduled for Friday would take a final decision, Mr. Thirumavalavan indicated that the Communist stand would follow.
Meanwhile, a meeting of newly elected DMK legislators held at Anna Arivalayam empowered Mr. Stalin to take a suitable decision in light of the fractured election verdict that did not give any party a majority.
“As the state is not ready for the next elections, our aim is to ensure a stable government. At the same time, we are compelled to prevent communal forces that could undermine Dravidian ideals from gaining ground,” read a resolution passed at the meeting.
The resolution further states that Tamil Nadu’s growth trajectory can be sustained only if the social security programs introduced by the DMK government in the last five years continue without interruption.
“The meeting unanimously authorizes the party leaders to take an emergency decision in view of the prevailing political and administrative situation,” the resolution added.
Behind the insistence on “majority support” lurks the shadow of President’s Rule
Another resolution slammed the Congress, a former ally of the DMK, accusing it of betrayal after it pulled out of the alliance and extended support to the TVK.
“The Congress was allotted a Rajya Sabha seat and 28 Assembly seats in an alliance. Yet, within three days of the declaration of results, it handed over the hard-earned mandate of the alliance partners to the rival camp. Even during seat-sharing talks, the Congress failed to condemn the remarks against the alliance,” the resolution said.
The legislators’ meeting also referred to developments in Puducherry, where Congress candidates were said to be contesting seats allotted to the DMK.
“The rival candidates even met their party leader and sought his blessings. The Congress did not behave honestly even during the election campaign,” read another resolution.
Accusing the Congress of “backstabbing and betrayal”, the DMK alleged that Congress candidates failed to even call Mr. Stalin even though he condoned their excesses and campaigned extensively for them.
Published – May 7, 2026 1:21 PM IST
