Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
Tamil Nadu’s post-election political landscape plunged deeper into uncertainty on Friday amid intense speculation that the DMK and AIADMK could be exploring an unprecedented arrangement to prevent actor-turned-politician Vijay from becoming Chief Minister.
Rumours in the political circles indicated that a prominent actor is allegedly playing the role of mediator between the rival Dravidian parties, even as back channel negotiations gathered pace following the fractured Assembly verdict.
Tamil Nadu faces political uncertainty as rivals DMK and AIADMK reportedly negotiate potential cooperation to prevent Vijay’s TVK party, the largest with 108 seats, from forming a government; Governor R. V. Arlekar declined inviting TVK due to lack of demonstrated majority.
The actor shares a good relationship with two Dravidian majors and has links in the Centre.
The developments come after Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the recently concluded Assembly election, leaving it just 10 short of the majority mark of 118.
The AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has begun weighing the possibility of cooperation with the DMK amid concerns over Vijay’s rapid political rise.
Reports suggest the mediator was given indications from senior political circles that a cooperative arrangement could help ease tensions between the Centre and the DMK.
Within the DMK, the idea of indirectly backing the AIADMK is believed to have triggered sharp internal discussions. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin was initially reluctant about any understanding with the AIADMK, considering the decades-long political rivalry between the two Dravidian majors, NDTV reported citing sources.
However, pressure is said to be mounting from influential quarters within the party and family circles, with senior leaders arguing that preventing Vijay from assuming power had become a political priority.
The DMK has conveyed one key condition to the AIADMK – it must sever ties with the BJP-led NDA before any formal talks can proceed, as per the report. The AIADMK had allied with the BJP in last month’s election.
If such a formula materialises, the DMK is expected to offer outside support to an AIADMK-led government rather than formally joining it. Additional demands are also reportedly under discussion, including representation for smaller allies such as the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).
The VCK has emerged as a crucial player in the evolving power struggle after reportedly being approached by Vijay’s camp for support.
Sources also claimed that Vijay had reached out to Left parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India, in an attempt to stitch together a Congress-Left-VCK alliance that could help TVK cross the majority threshold.
However, political observers said the Left parties remain uncomfortable with the prospect of any indirect DMK-AIADMK understanding.
Speculation intensified further after rumours surfaced that the AIADMK could soon walk out of the NDA alliance. Sources indicated that depending on the stand taken by the VCK and Left parties, the AIADMK leadership may meet Governor R. N. Ravi later in the day to stake claim to form the government, reportedly with unconditional outside support from the DMK.
The dramatic shift in the political narrative comes barely a day after the DMK passed a resolution authorising Stalin to take “immediate and necessary political decisions” in the prevailing circumstances.
The resolution stressed that Tamil Nadu was “not prepared for another election” and highlighted the need for political stability. It also warned against allowing “forces opposed to the ideals of the Dravidian movement” to gain ground in the state.
Meanwhile, the TVK reacted sharply to the reports of possible realignments. According to sources quoted by NDTV, the party warned that all its MLAs could resign if either the DMK or AIADMK formed the government despite TVK emerging as the single largest party.
The constitutional battle has also intensified at Raj Bhavan. Governor R. V. Arlekar has reportedly declined to invite Vijay to form the government, stating that the TVK leader had failed to demonstrate majority support in the Assembly.
Vijay is understood to have met the Governor twice in the past two days. However, Raj Bhavan maintained that constitutional procedure required clear backing from at least 118 legislators before an invitation to form the government could be extended.
With negotiations continuing behind closed doors and multiple political camps scrambling for numbers, Tamil Nadu now appears headed towards one of its most dramatic post-election power struggles in recent history.
