TVK Chief Vijay seeks Congress support to form govt in Tamil Nadu: KC Venugopal

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal claimed that TVK Chief Vijay has sought alliance with Congress for government formation in Tamil Nadu.

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Joseph Vijay has sought support from Congress to form government in Tamil Nadu after staggering victory of 108 seats in Assembly elections on May 4. 

According to ANI, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal claimed that TVK Chief Vijay has sought alliance with Congress for government formation in Tamil Nadu.

Major Congress meeting held in Delhi following Vijay's request for support to the TVK; Kharge and Rahul in attendance... The Congress leadership has left the final decision to the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee.

Congress General Secretar Venugopal stated that, "neither the BJP nor a proxy government should be formed... He also made reference to Vijay's statement citing former Congress stalwart K. Kamaraj as an inspiration... The Congress High Command has directed the Tamil Nadu Congress unit to take a decision regarding Vijay's request," he said.

"Vijay has requested support from the Congress," added Venugopal.

"The electoral mandate in Tamil Nadu favors a secular government. We do not want a BJP government to be formed," further stated Congress General Secretary.

Congress held discussions regarding the political situation in Tamil Nadu claimed KC. 

He also announced that the state unit will convene in Chennai tomorrow morning to decide on government formation. Reportedly Congress is poised to back actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), with central leadership granting the state unit full autonomy for an independent call.

Other parties may also join the new coalition, though specifics remain undisclosed. Vijay must first formally stake his claim before taking oath as chief minister.

According to NDTV, Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar confirmed that actor-politician Vijay has written to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge requesting support for government formation.

"We are considering it seriously," Chodankar said. "Our performance wasn't strong; Vijay rode a massive wave among youth and women voters. The mandate clearly favors a secular government."

With TVK emerging as the single-largest party at 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, falling short of the 118 majority mark, intense negotiations are underway.

Meanwhile TVK Chief Vijat thanked people for the historic mandate, in his first statment post-victory, taking on X, Vijay  said, "Greetings to everyone who resides in my heart. Since the very inception of our party, we have encountered far more people who viewed and spoke of us with mockery than those who did otherwise. Recognizing that this is simply the nature of politics, we moved past it and pressed on. Relying on no one but the people themselves, we stood boldly and fearlessly on the electoral battlefield."

"In the guise of "neutrality" and under the cloak of "criticism," we were gifted with nothing but masked insults and slanderous attacks. Yet, those to whom we came to politics to repay our debt of gratitude—our own people, the people of Tamil Nadu—have always held us close with the unconditional love of a mother; and they continue to do so to this day," he furhter added.

"It is with that very maternal affection that, in this election as well, they have showered us with boundless love and an overwhelming mandate of votes. We had declared that this election—which has sent tremors through the entire Indian political landscape—would be a "miraculous election." That prediction has now been proven true in every conceivable way," said Vijay.