Vijay Ahead in Gaining Assembly Majority

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) workers hold photographs of their leader, actor-turned-politician Vijay Chandrasekhar, as they celebrate. (AP)

Reports indicate that a section within the AIADMK is inclined to support Vijay and his party

Chennai: On yet another day of hectic political activity, Vijay’s TVK was getting closer to being assured of enough support to sail through any floor test even as the Dravidian major DMK was left fuming over its main ally in its secular alliance, Congress, ditching it to offer support to Vijay.

Just as the TNCC members were meeting to formalise the support of 5 MLAs to Vijay’s TVK, DMK was raging about having been stabbed in the back by the Congress. With Rahul inclined to back the leader of Gen Z in Vijay, the new alignment was talked of even before the polls. It is nearer fruition now with an announcement expected any moment.

The Congress support may come with the condition that TVK not seek the support of any party that was in the AIADMK-BJP led NDA alliance. Meanwhile, the AIADMK was on the verge of splitting with 35 of its 47 MLAs prepared to back Vijay so he can form the government without any threat.

Gathering at the home of veteran leader CV Shanmugam, the AIADMK MLAs, whose meeting with party leader Palaniswami at party HQ in the morning was cancelled were determined to seize the opportunity to get on the right side of the popular wave and stave off the prospect of the party becoming irrelevant in TN politics after it finished third in the polls.

The TVK seems determined to accept the Congress offer that will also prompt the sealing of the support of 2 MLAs each from the VCK, CPI(M) and CPI, which means that the DMK+ that went to the polls might be left with at least four allies.

With the swearing-in fixed for Thursday, Vijay will be in a more confident frame of mind as his majority in the legislature is assured. He has riches in terms of choice now in support either from the Congress-VCK-Communist parties or a majority AIADMK MLAs defying their leader E Palaniswami to offer unconditional support.