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Chennai: Vijay, chief of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), on Wednesday met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan and formally staked claim to form the government in the state.

The development comes a day ahead of the scheduled swearing-in ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where Vijay is expected to take oath as Chief Minister, marking a dramatic rise from cinema to politics.

Governor Confirms Claim, ‘New Govt Will Come’

Earlier in the day, Governor Arlekar confirmed that he had received a formal letter from TVK asserting majority support and seeking an invitation to form the government.

“I have received a letter from TVK… they have stated that they have the majority and should be called for formation of the government. A new government will come now,” he said.

The meeting between Vijay and the Governor formalises TVK’s bid to take charge after emerging as the single-largest party.

Historic Mandate: TVK Leads With 108 Seats

TVK delivered a stunning performance in its debut Assembly election, winning 108 out of 234 seats, leaving both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) far behind.

DMK: 59 seats

AIADMK: 47 seats

Vijay himself won from Tiruchirapalli East and Perambur, reinforcing his political credibility beyond cinema and signalling a mass connect that translated into votes.

The verdict has effectively dismantled Tamil Nadu’s decades-old DMK-AIADMK duopoly.

Congress Backs TVK, Dumps DMK

In a crucial boost to Vijay’s numbers, the Congress has formally extended support to TVK, ending its alliance with DMK.

Tamil Nadu Congress chief K Selvaperunthagai and AICC in-charge Girish Chodankar met Vijay at the party headquarters and handed over a letter of support.

“With Congress securing five seats and TVK 108, we have given our support. This is the high command’s decision,” Selvaperunthagai said.

The Congress move takes the alliance tally to 113 seats, just five short of the majority mark of 118.

Divided AIADMK Support

With numbers still short, TVK has opened channels with AIADMK. With 47 seats, AIADMK holds the key to pushing Vijay comfortably past the halfway mark. However, the party remains divided. Around 35 AIADMK MLAs, widely believed to be over two-thirds of the party’s legislative strength, had gathered at Rajya Sabha MP CV Shanmugam’s office in Chennai earlier during the day, signalling support for initiating talks with TVK.

Shanmugam, who is leading the outreach effort, struck a cautious note, saying, “The party has to take the decision,” when asked about AIADMK extending support to TVK.

However, sources indicate resistance from AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who is reportedly not in favour of an immediate alliance. Intense discussions are expected to continue over the next two days, with the party leadership under pressure to arrive at a consensus.

DMK Hits Out, Calls Congress ‘Unstable’

The Congress pivot has triggered sharp reactions from DMK. Leader Saravanan Annadurai slammed the move as “myopic” and warned it would damage Congress’ credibility nationally.

“The perception is that Congress cannot be trusted,” he said, accusing the party of betraying its INDIA bloc partners at a critical juncture.

The remarks underline the deepening rift between the two former allies.

From Cinema To Secretariat

Vijay’s ascent marks one of the most dramatic political transitions in recent times.

From commanding massive fan followings on screen to leading a political upheaval, his journey has culminated in a moment that could redefine Tamil Nadu politics.

With the claim staked and numbers nearly secured, Vijay stands on the brink of power.

If he successfully forms the government, it won’t just be a victory, it will signal the arrival of a new political era in Tamil Nadu, ending decades of two-party dominance and reshaping the state’s future trajectory.