Thalapathy’s Thursday: Chennai prepares for swearing-in of new era
CHENNAI: Marking a tectonic shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, "Thalapathy" Vijay is poised to take office as the Chief Minister. Sources within the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) have confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for this Thursday, May 7, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.
As the leader of the single largest party, Vijay has formally met with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan, staking his claim to form the government following a fractured mandate that shattered the state's long-standing Dravidian duopoly.
While the TVK emerged as the dominant force, it currently sits just shy of the 118-seat majority mark. To ensure a stable government, the TVK leadership is actively courting members of the former DMK-led alliance.
The party’s strategy centres on a historic "power-sharing" model—promising cabinet berths to smaller allies, a move seldom seen during the tenures of the DMK or AIADMK. The current alignment efforts include:
- Indian National Congress: 5 seats (Reportedly secured)
- CPI(M) & CPI: 4 seats (2 each; internal consultations ongoing)
- VCK: 2 seats
- IUML: 2 seats
- DMDK: 1 seat
The TVK secured 107 seats in its stunning electoral debut. While Vijay won from two constituencies, he is expected to retain his seat in Perambur and resign from Tiruchirappalli (East). With one member slated for the Speaker’s post, the TVK needs to consolidate a coalition of at least 12 to 14 additional MLAs to reach a safe working majority of 120.
The TVK has signalled a "Plan B" should the Left parties or VCK hesitate to break away from their previous alliance. The party has opened channels with the PMK, which holds 4 seats.
The offer of Ministerial positions remains the primary draw for these parties. While the TVK leadership briefly weighed seeking support from the AIADMK (which secured 47 seats), they ultimately decided against it to maintain the party’s "alternative to the giants" branding.