Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar handing over the appointment letter to TVK chief C. Joseph Vijay as the new Chief Minister of the state at the Lok Bhavan in Chennai on May 9, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday (May 10, 2026), ending nearly six decades of alternating rule by the state’s two dominant Dravidian parties – the DMK and the AIADMK.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Saturday (May 9) named Mr Vijay as the Chief Minister-designate after securing the support of 120 elected MLAs in the 234-member House.
Mr. Vijay will be sworn in at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Sunday (May 10) at 10 am. Nine other ministers, including some senior TVK leaders, will also be sworn in. Mr. Vijay will lead a coalition government with the Congress as a partner.
Also Read: Highlights of Tamil Nadu Government Formation
The governor also directed Mr. Vijay to seek a vote of confidence in the assembly on or before May 13. The gripping political uncertainty that prevailed for the past few days ended on Saturday (May 9) evening when VCK and IUML extended their support, taking the number of TVK to 120. Later, Chenna Bhai’s Mr. Vijay sought letters of support from Chenna Bhai. Congress, CPI, CPI (M), VCK and IUML.
TVK, which won 108 seats in the recent assembly elections, has an effective strength of 107 as party president Mr. Vijay was elected from two constituencies. He will have to vacate one seat. The party secured the support of five elected Congress MLAs and two each from the CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML, all of whom fought as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).
Although the Congress severed ties with the DMK to form a post-poll alliance with the TVK, the other parties said that while extending support to the TVK to form the government, they would continue to remain part of the DMK-led alliance.
The TVK cadre celebrated Mr. Vijay’s appointment as Chief Minister by distributing sweets and crackers at the party headquarters in Panaiyur and several other places.
Supporting TVK to avoid President’s rule
Since the CPI and CPI (M) had already expressed their support to the TVK, the TVK was waiting for the decision of the VCK. The VCK was expected to extend support around noon, but the formal letter was handed over to TVK general secretary (election campaign management) Aadhav Arjun only in the evening.
Later, when he spoke to journalists at the VCK headquarters, party founder-president Thol. Thirumavalavan said, “Since the days of the People’s Welfare Front, the Left and the VCK have been working together on the basis of ideology. Therefore, in the context of this political crisis, the Left and the VCK have been consulting and deciding together, keeping a long-term vision in mind.”
Mr. Thirumavalavan said the decision to support TVK was taken after consultation with the party’s high-level committee. “The basis of this decision is to prevent the imposition of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu using this political crisis and we do not want to be a hindrance to TVK in forming a new government.”
Mr. Thirumavalavan also made it clear that his party would provide unconditional outside support to the government. Asked if the alliance with the DMK would continue, he said, “We are still in the DMK-led alliance. But as a political party, we have used our independence to take this stand. I don’t think it will affect our relationship.”
Published – 09 May 2026 19:39 IST
