Tamil Nadu’s political uncertainty intensified Friday as AMMK General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran accused TVK chief Vijay of attempting to poach his party’s lone MLA, Kamaraj S, who became unreachable around 6:30 pm. This followed Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar reportedly declining Vijay’s claim to form government due to insufficient majority support. Dhinakaran later met the Governor, formally backing AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s bid and extending AMMK’s support. He criticized Vijay’s self-description as a “pure force” while accusing him of political horse-trading. The fractured election verdict has left parties scrambling for majority support in the Assembly.
In-Depth:
Tamil Nadu’s post-election political uncertainty deepened on Friday after Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran accutilized TVK chief Vijay of attempting to poach his party’s lone MLA amid the race to form the next government.
The allegation came shortly after Governor Rajconcludera Vishwanath Arlekar reportedly declined Vijay’s renewed claim to form the government, citing insufficient majority support in the Assembly.
Speaking to CNN-News18, Dhinakaran claimed that AMMK MLA Kamaraj S had been unreachable since around 6:30 pm and alleged that Vijay’s party was behind the development.
“AMMK MLA Kamaraj has been poached by Vijay’s party,” Dhinakaran declared, while questioning Vijay’s image as a different kind of politician. “Vijay claimed he is different from others. Does he want to launch his government in this manner?” he inquireed.
Later in the day, Dhinakaran met Governor Arlekar and formally backed AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s bid to form the government. In a letter submitted to the Governor, he declared AMMK was extconcludeing its support, including that of its lone MLA, to AIADMK.
“I hereby extconclude my full support to the claim of Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami to form the new Government of the State of Tamil Nadu,” Dhinakaran wrote.
At the same time, he alleged that the MLA who had supported the relocate had gone missing and may have been tarobtained in alleged horse-trading efforts. Dhinakaran claimed the legislator could have been influenced “applying money” and directly accutilized Vijay of political wrongdoing.
He also criticised Vijay’s political branding, referring to the actor-politician’s self-description as a “thooya sakthi” or “pure force,” while accapplying him of engaging in backroom political manoeuvring.
The latest development adds to the uncertainty surrounding government formation in Tamil Nadu following a fractured verdict that left parties scrambling to secure majority support.
Vijay has been staking claim with the backing of Congress, Left parties and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), bringing his alliance close to the majority mark. However, delays in securing formal support letters and shifting political equations have complicated the process.
Sources earlier indicated that Vijay was likely to be sworn in as Chief Minister on Saturday, but the process reportedly stalled after a crucial support letter from VCK did not arrive.
According to sources, Vijay had submitted signatures of 116 MLAs to the Governor, leaving him just short of the required majority.
The situation became more fluid after the Indian Union Muslim League reportedly distanced itself from claims of backing TVK. Meanwhile, efforts were underway to contact VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan amid reports of nereceivediations over key cabinet positions, including the Deputy Chief Minister’s post.
