Vijay TVK | LIVE UPDATES
Uncertainty over who will form the next government in Tamil Nadu spilled over into a fifth day after Governor Rajendra Arlekar did not invite Vijay, whose TVK emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly, to form a government.
Vijay’s TVK secured 108 seats in the 234-seat Assembly, while the DMK-led alliance secured 73 and the AIADMK-led alliance 53 seats.
On Friday, Vijay met the Governor with letters of support from the Congress with 5 MLAs and the CPI and CPI(M) with 2 each.
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Tamil Nadu govt formation | LIVE UPDATES
8 am: All eyes on smaller parties
Vijay’s TVK, which emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly with 108 of 234 seats, was positioned to form the next government in Tamil Nadu. But, a last-minute reconsideration by smaller parties has thrown a spanner in the works.
Vijay met Governor Vishwanath Arlekar Friday. This was their third meeting since results were announced on 4 May.
6 am: TVK refutes Dhinakaran claim
TVK rejected AMMK General Secretary T. T. V. Dhinakaran’s claims that his party had never extended support to Vijay’s party. The TVK maintained they had got a letter of support from AMMK MLA-elect Kamaraj’s letter extending support to Vijay for a coalition government in Tamil Nadu.
Dhinakaran rushed to Lok Bhavan late Friday to deliver a letter to Governor Rajendra Arlekar, after a “forged” letter went viral, claiming AMMK’s support for Vijay’s TVK. However, TVK refuted the “forged letter” claim and shared a video, saying that AMMK leader Kamaraj had backed the party to form a government, reported ANI.
TVK further accused Dhinakaran of spreading misinformation while concealing facts related to the matter.
The party, which won 108 seats in the polls and fell short of the majority mark of 118 seats, asserted that it did not need to “bargain or negotiate” with anyone for support.
“These are the visuals of AMMK MLA Kamaraj voluntarily and happily writing a letter expressing his support for the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. He had stated that he was extending support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam with the approval of AMMK General Secretary TTV Dhinakaran,” TVK stated.
Earlier, Dhinakaran claimed the letter supporting TVK was a case of “horse trading” and forgery. He reaffirmed that AMMK’s lone MLA-elect, Kamaraj S, remains loyal to the NDA and AIADMK. Dhinakaran officially backed AIADMK’s Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) for the CM post, calling him the alliance’s rightful candidate.
Speaking to the media after meeting the Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar at Lok Bhavan, Dhinakaran said that he had written the letter supporting AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami earlier in the day, and it was signed by AMMK’s MLA-elect Kamaraj S.
Also Read: TN game of thrones: Cloud over Vijay oath-taking as IUML says it won’t back TVK, VCK still silent
