CHENNAI: After disregarding and ignoring him for nearly two years since he launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), party founder C Joseph Vijay, who is set to be sworn in as the Chief Minister on Thursday, seems to be getting support from all corners.
Vijay is scheduled to meet Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Wednesday to formally present letters of support from MLAs and seek an invitation to form the government. Governor Arlekar said, "TVK's initial communication contained only vote share details. I have asked them to provide the exact number of MLAs currently supporting them."
While the party is 10 short of simple majority, having won 108 seat on its own, the margin does not look impossible to bridge, with the Congress’s national leadership, a section of the AIADMK leadership, smaller allies of the NDA, and even a BJP member making it clear that their respective parties were open to extend support.
Emerging from a high-level committee chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal said Vijay has sought the party’s support to form the government and spoke about the legacy of late leader K Kamaraj.
The high command has directed the State unit to take the final decision on the alliance, he said, adding, "We are clear that the mandate in Tamil Nadu is for a secular government committed to protecting the Constitution. And Congress is determined not to have the BJP and any proxy run the government in Tamil Nadu in any manner."
Meanwhile, after attending a meeting of AIADMK MLAs chaired by party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, MLA Leema Rose – who incidentally is the mother-in-law of TVK leader and MLA Aadhav Arjuna – said Palaniswami spoke about extending support to TVK. Rumours are also rife that influential leader SP Velumani is preparing to take a group of MLAs to the TVK camp if Palaniswami is not amenable to such a move.
Speculations are also rife that NDA constituents, including Anbumani Ramadoss-led PMK, which has four MLAs, and TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK (one MLA), are also open to extending support in return for a share in the government.
More surprising was the support offered by a BJP leader, but with a rider. In a statement, State spokesperson ANS Prasad said the electorate's verdict must be respected in both letter and spirit, noting that the TVK, with 108 MLAs, had emerged as the single largest party.
"All parties and their legislators should act with honesty and magnanimity to facilitate the formation of a TVK government for a minimum of six months. Thereafter, they may review its performance in line with their respective ideologies and public interest," he said.
Vijay to retain Perambur, shortlists cabinet
Earlier in the day, Vijay was unanimously elected leader of the party's Legislature Party at a meeting of the party's newly elected MLAs at its Panaiyur headquarters. All 106 legislators submitted letters endorsing Vijay's leadership. Addressing them, Vijay said he would retain the Perambur constituency and resign from Tiruchy East, both of which he had won in the elections.
Underscoring the need for unity and discipline, he said "We must remain united and committed to the party and its leadership at all times," participants quoted him as saying.
Later, Vijay held consultations with senior leaders, including N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna and veteran KA Sengottaiyan, at his Pattinapakkam residence to review arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony. Sengottaiyan has been tasked with overseeing the preparations.
Party sources indicated that a preliminary list of ministers is being firmed up, with key names including Anand, KG Arunraj, Sengottaiyan, Aadhav Arjuna, CTR Nirmal Kumar, Tamilan Parthiban, ECR P Saravanan, J Mohamed Farvas, R Vijaysaravanan, V Sathyabama, Rajmohan, JCD Prabhakar and VS Babu. Few female MLAs are also learnt to be under consideration.