Left parties back Vijay, TVK nears power in TN

TVK chief Vijay on Friday moved closer to forming his maiden Government as Left parties declared support to him, capping days of hectic parleys aimed at Government formation. While CPI and CPI (M) officially announced their support to Vijay, there were indications that VCK had also backed TVK, while the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) said it will support initiatives towards Government formation.

The Left parties CPI and CPI(M) has two MLAs each, taking to 116 MLAs support to TVK’s Vijay. VCK has not yet given letter and Governor Rajendra Arlekar insisted got getting support letters from VCK and IUML, leading to the delay in government formation.

Hours after the Left parties pledged unconditional support, Vijay reached the office of the Governor in Guindy over Government formation and TVK supporters broke into celebrations here and elsewhere in the State, anticipating Vijay’s swearing-in. Though VCK did not make any official announcement immediately on support to TVK, party chief Thol Thirumavalvan has asserted several times that his party’s stand will be in sync with the line taken by the Left parties.

In the April polls, TVK won 108 constituencies, including Vijay’s two seats and emerged as the single largest party.

TVK founder Vijay will have to resign from one of the two constituencies he has won, as per EC norms.

Congress party has extended the support of its five MLAs to Vijay, who needs the support of 118 legislators to form Government.

As per the calculations, the strength of TVK and its supporting MLAs now stands at 116, taking into account the requirement of Vijay resigning from one of the two seats he contested from— Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli East. That being the case, Vijay now requires two more MLAs’ support to usher in his maiden Government and VCK is all set to announce its decision on Saturday, amid indications that it might follow the Left parties. CPI , CPI (M), IUML and VCK have two seats each in the 234-member House.

VCK leader Vanniarasu, a close aid of the party founder, gave clear indication that Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi was keen on getting a share in power, which the TVK is prepared to offer. According to Marxist leader and former CPI (M) state secretary K Balakrishnan, besides the two Left parties, VCK and IUML “have also given letters,” indicating they too have extended support to TVK, which originally lacked numbers to form Government. He claimed Vijay is “being invited” by the governor Arlekar to form Government and that he will be sworn-in on Saturday morning.

Welcoming the outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin’s statement urging Governor Arlekar to immediately take necessary steps to ensure that a new Government is formed as per the Constitution, IUML cryptically said its “two MLAs would support the initiatives by the Governor towards the Government formation.” The statement by IUML top leader Prof KM Kader Mohideen is seen as a hint that IUML shall in some ways “facilitate” Government formation.

The Left parties, both part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, said that the decision was taken in order to prevent BJP’s “backdoor entry” in to the state. They will remain with the DMK vis-a-vis state rights. The Communist parties announced that they will not be a part of the TVK cabinet. Congress with five MLA is also expected to join in Government.