TVK president C. Joseph Vijay to be sworn in as Chief Minister on May 10; T.N. set for coalition government

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C. Joseph Vijay will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday (May 10, 2026), putting an end to almost six decades of alternating rule by the State’s two dominant Dravidian parties—DMK and AIADMK. Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Saturday (May 9) appointed Mr. Vijay Chief Minister-designate after he secured the support of 120 MLAs-elect in the 234-member House.

Mr. Vijay will take the oath at Nehru Stadium in Chennai at 10 a.m on Sunday (May 10). Nine other Ministers, including some senior TVK leaders, will also be sworn in. Mr. Vijay will head a coalition government with the Congress as a partner.

The Governor has also directed Mr. Vijay to seek a vote of confidence in the Assembly on or before May 13. The nail-biting political uncertainty that prevailed over the last few days ended on Saturday (May 9) evening, when the VCK and the IUML extended their support, taking the TVK’s tally to 120. Later, Mr. Vijay called on the Governor at Lok Bhavan in Chennai, and handed over letters of support from the Congress, CPI, CPI (M), VCK and IUML.

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The TVK, which won 108 seats in the recent Assembly election, has an effective strength of 107 as party president Mr. Vijay was elected from two constituencies. He will have to vacate one seat. The party secured support of five Congress MLAs-elect and two each from the CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML, all of whom had contested as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA).

Though the Congress snapped ties with the DMK to forge a post-poll alliance with the TVK, the other parties said that while they were extending support to the TVK for government formation, they would continue to remain part of the DMK-led alliance.

TVK cadre celebrated Mr. Vijay’s appointment as the Chief Minister by distributing sweets and bursting crackers at the party headquarters in Panaiyur and at several other places.

Support to TVK to avoid President’s rule

With the CPI and CPI (M) already expressing support for the TVK, the TVK had been awaiting the VCK’s decision. It was expected that the VCK would extend support around noon, but the formal letter was handed over to TVK general secretary (election campaign management) Aadhav Arjuna only in the evening.

Later, speaking to reporters at the VCK headquarters, party founder-president Thol. Thirumavalavan said, “Since the time of the People’s Welfare Front, the Left and the VCK have been functioning together based on ideology. Therefore, in the context of this political crisis, the Left and the VCK consulted and decided together, keeping a long-term vision in mind.”

Mr. Thirumavalavan said the decision to support the TVK was taken after consulting the party’s high-level committee. “The basis of this decision is to prevent President’s rule from being imposed in Tamil Nadu by using this political crisis, and we do not want to be an obstacle to the TVK forming the new government.”

Mr. Thirumavalavan also made it clear that his party would extend unconditional support to the government from outside. When asked if the alliance with the DMK would continue, he said, “We are still in the DMK-led alliance. But as a political party, we have used our independence to take this stand. I don’t think this will affect our relationship.”