Chidambaram Cites Convention, Urges TN Governor to Invite Vijay’s TVK to Form Govt

Congress Leader P. Chidambaram has called for Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to invite Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-politician Vijay, to form the government after the recently concluded state assembly elections resulted in a hung mandate. In a post on social media platform X, Chidambaram argued that constitutional and parliamentary convention requires the leader of the single largest party to be invited first to demonstrate majority support on the floor of the House. He said this principle becomes especially relevant when no party or alliance secures an outright majority in the assembly.

TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, falling just 10 seats short of the majority mark of 118. Chidambaram emphasised that in such a scenario, the proper forum to test majority strength is the legislative assembly itself, not the Governor’s residence.

Referring to legal precedent, Chidambaram cited a 1994 Supreme Court judgment (1994 3 SCC 1), stating that established constitutional practice requires the Governor to act based on numerical strength in the House. He reiterated that the leader of the largest party should be given the opportunity to prove majority support on the floor of the legislature.

The remarks come amid political controversy over Governor Arlekar’s decision to invite Vijay to Raj Bhavan and seek clarification on whether TVK has the required majority support. According to official sources, the Governor asked for details on the “magic number” and supporting legislators before considering any formal invitation to form the government. This move has triggered sharp criticism from several political quarters, with some parties alleging that the Governor’s actions are politically influenced and intended to delay government formation. Opposition voices have also raised concerns about constitutional propriety and accused the office of acting beyond established conventions.

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Meanwhile, efforts to secure a majority continue in the state. TVK, with 108 seats, has reportedly aligned with the Congress, which holds five seats, bringing the combined tally close to but still short of the majority threshold. The alliance still requires additional support from smaller parties. TVK leaders have been engaging with potential allies, including the Communist Party of India (CPI), which holds two seats, and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which also has two seats in the assembly.

Party representatives have held discussions in Chennai, with both CPI and VCK expected to take internal decisions on extending support. As political negotiations continue, the formation of the next government in Tamil Nadu remains uncertain, with post-poll alliances and constitutional conventions now at the centre of an intense political debate.

Also Read: Stalin to Allies: Decide on TVK Support Based on Political Interests