Tamil Nadu election results: AIADMK or smaller parties? Vijay’s options to form govt explained

The Tamil Nadu election has thrown up a blockbuster.

Politician-actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), in a sensational performance, has emerged as the single largest party in the state.

The TVK currently has 111 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly. Celebrations have already begun at Vijay’s residence. His family is said to be overjoyed, particularly his father.

However, this is still short of the magic 118 mark needed to form the government. Meanwhile, the ruling DMK of MK Stalin is at 63 seats, while the opposition AIADMK is at 60 seats.

It is now that the true political test of Vijay will begin. While he has said he is confident that the TVK will form the government in Tamil Nadu single-handedly, the realities of governing dictate that he will need support from other parties in the state.

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So what are Vijay’s options in Tamil Nadu as TVK emerges as the single largest party?

Let’s take a closer look.

What is the TVK saying?

First, let’s take a look at what the TVK is saying.

The party spokesperson has insisted that the TVK will form the government in Tamil Nadu on its own.

“We expected this. I don’t think we need support from any other party. We have been saying there is a silent Vijay wave. This shows Tamil Nadu was waiting for change. People were unhappy and fed up with both the DMK and the AIADMK,” TVK’s Felix Gerald told India Today.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay, president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has insisted his party will form the government in Tamil Nadu on its own strength. Reuters

This is no different from what the TVK had said prior to the polls. Vijay and his party, during the campaign, had vowed not to align with the DMK or the AIADMK. In fact, Vijay promised a fresh start away from Dravidian politics. But politics is an unforgiving game, and few would actually pass up the chance to take power.

Reaching out to the smaller parties

Depending on the final numbers, Vijay could reach out to smaller parties in Tamil Nadu – which are aligned with the DMK and AIADMK – to help the TVK hit the magic 118-seat mark.

As per News18, Vijay can individually reach out to the Congress (3), CPI (2), and VCK (2), all of which are currently part of the DMK alliance in Tamil Nadu. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which usually aligns with the AIADMK and the BJP, also has 7 seats as per the latest trends. This would allow Vijay to remain in charge without making any big concessions to any of his major rivals in the state.

Vijay could reach out to smaller parties in Tamil Nadu. AP

However, he may have to give up important cabinet positions to these parties, who may take a tougher line knowing that they are set to play ‘kingmaker’. They may also want to give input on policy, which would go against Vijay’s promise to deliver results immediately.

Tie-up with AIADMK

Another option for Vijay and the TVK would be to tie up with the opposition AIADMK. The two sides had even discussed a pre-poll alliance before things went awry, according to The Statesman. The TVK, at the time, had demanded a larger share of seats as well as Vijay to be put forward as the chief ministerial candidate. However, the AIADMK had rejected these demands outright, given that Vijay and the party were making their electoral debut. As per NDTV, AIADMK party chief Edappadi K Palaniswami dismissed any notion of a tie-up as ‘media rumours’.

But now, with the TVK emerging as the single largest party in the state, the power equation has completely changed. The AIADMK may now be far more amenable to an alliance with the TVK to get back into power in Tamil Nadu. The fact that the AIADMK has ruled Tamil Nadu before will also help Vijay’s first-time government.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay, president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), greets his supporters after filing his nomination papers for the Tamil Nadu state assembly election, in Chennai, India, March 30, 2026. REUTERS/Riya Mariyam R

An obvious complication here is the AIADMK’s relationship with the BJP, which has been trying to expand in the state. As per NDTV, Vijay, on the campaign trail, attacked both the AIADMK and the BJP. Given the present scenario, the AIADMK will have to make major concessions to the TVK if it wishes to be part of a coalition government in Tamil Nadu. According to The Statesman, Vijay may even demand that the AIADMK entirely sever its ties with the BJP.

Vijay will also have to find a way to explain to his supporters the political realities of forming such a government. “I am sticking my neck out here and saying that if a proposal comes, I don’t think the party will say no to that alliance,” Apsara Reddy, AIADMK spokesperson, told India Today.

DMK and Congress

This is the least likely scenario for Vijay, who described the DMK as the ‘political enemy’ and made opposing the party’s “dynastic corruption” a key part of his plank in the run-up to the polls. Vijay claimed that the DMK had back-channel dealings with the BJP and predicted that M.K Stalin would “fall at the feet of PM Modi” to avoid corruption cases.

Vijay had called the DMK led by MK Stalin as 'enemy number 1'.

However, the Congress, which is allied with the DMK, could break the ice. On the other hand, those who voted for Vijay and the TVK could see such a potential move as a knife in the back. However, it must be remembered that this is politics and that everything is fair game.

The Congress has also hinted that it could be amenable to supporting the TVK if it falls short of a majority on its own. Whatever happens next, political observers will be watching closely.

FAQs

1. How many seats are needed to form a government in Tamil Nadu?

A party or alliance needs 118 seats in the 234-member Assembly to form the government.

2. Can Vijay form the government on his own?

With 111 seats, TVK is short of a majority, so support from other parties is required unless numbers change.

3. Which alliance are Congress, CPI, and VCK part of?

These parties are currently part of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu.

With inputs from agencies