CHENNAI, May 8:
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. Vijay is expected to be sworn-in on Saturday.
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.
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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) 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.
Vijay, who has already staked claim to form the government, had a brief meeting with the Governor during their third meeting in three days, sources said.
Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, with 108 seats but 10 short of a majority initially, had earlier reached out to CPI, CPI (M), IUML and the VCK– all DMK allies, seeking their support to form government after winning its maiden Assembly election in Tamil Nadu which was held on April 23. IUML has also won two seats.
Vijay visited the offices of the CPI and CPI (M) and thanked the Left leaders for their support to his party to form the government. It was his first visit to the Communist parties’ offices.
Left parties have asserted that they will support the TVK form government but also continue their “journey” with the DMK.
CPI State Secretary M Veerapandian said “people have proposed democracy and we have seconded it,” and that the party extends support to TVK. (PTI)
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