Tamil Nadu in political deadlock as alliances shift after 'Hung Assembly'

Tamil Nadu is witnessing intense political uncertainty after actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single-largest party in the 2026 Assembly election but fell short of the majority mark required to form the government.

The 234-member Assembly requires 118 seats for a majority. TVK won 108 seats, placing it ahead of both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). However, the party remains 10 seats short of power.

What is happening right now?

Vijay has met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar twice to stake claim to form the government, but the Governor has reportedly not yet been convinced that TVK has the numbers required to cross the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly.

The development has triggered hectic political negotiations across the state. TVK currently has 108 seats and has received support from Congress, which won five seats. Even with Congress backing, the party remains short of the 118-seat majority mark and is now trying to secure support from Left parties and smaller regional allies.

At the same time, reports suggest that the DMK and AIADMK are exploring ways to prevent Vijay from forming the government, though neither side has officially confirmed any formal arrangement. Amid the uncertainty, the Governor is understood to be waiting for clearer proof of majority support before inviting any party to form the government.

Congress backs Vijay, but with conditions

The Indian National Congress has extended support to Vijay’s TVK, taking the alliance tally to 113 seats. However, the party reportedly said its support depends on keeping “communal forces” out of the alliance, a remark widely interpreted as opposition to the BJP.

Congress leaders have defended the move by arguing that TVK represents a secular political alternative in Tamil Nadu and that the mandate reflected voter dissatisfaction with BJP-backed politics in the state.

Why Left parties have become crucial

The Communist parties and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) have now emerged as key players in the government formation process. Reports suggest TVK is trying to secure support from the CPI, CPM and VCK to bridge the remaining gap to the majority mark.

However, these parties have not yet officially committed their support. CPM reportedly held internal discussions on whether it should back TVK or continue aligning with the broader Dravidian bloc led by the DMK.

Their decision is being closely watched because support for Vijay could significantly alter Tamil Nadu’s traditional political structure, which for decades has largely revolved around the DMK-AIADMK rivalry.

The biggest twist: DMK-AIADMK alliance buzz

One of the biggest developments after the election has been speculation that the two long-time Dravidian rivals, DMK and AIADMK, could cooperate in some form to prevent Vijay from becoming Chief Minister.

Such a possibility would have been considered highly unlikely in Tamil Nadu politics until recently. Reports suggest sections within the DMK fear Vijay could emerge as a long-term mass leader similar to former AIADMK icon M. G. Ramachandran, while AIADMK is believed to be reassessing its political strategy after years of electoral setbacks following the death of J. Jayalalithaa.

At the same time, there are conflicting reports regarding these discussions. While some reports claim backchannel talks are underway, others quote AIADMK leaders rejecting any alliance idea, and DMK leaders have publicly denied formal coalition discussions.

What happens next?

The next few days are expected to be crucial for government formation in Tamil Nadu. TVK is attempting to secure support from Left parties and smaller regional outfits to cross the majority mark of 118 seats in the 234-member Assembly. If Vijay succeeds in gathering enough support, he could be invited to form the government.
At the same time, political attention remains focused on reports of possible coordination between the DMK and AIADMK to prevent TVK from taking power. While no formal alliance has been announced, discussions around an anti-TVK strategy have intensified after the fractured verdict.

Another possibility is that the Governor may ask the single-largest party to prove its majority through a floor test in the Assembly. In that scenario, the final decision would shift to the House, where every supporting MLA would become crucial.
If no party or alliance is able to demonstrate a clear majority in the coming days, Tamil Nadu could face prolonged political uncertainty, with the possibility of extended negotiations or other constitutional options remaining open.