After three Lok Bhavan visits, Vijay is one VCK step away from CM chair

CHENNAI: TVK president C Joseph Vijay moved four steps closer to the chief minister’s chair on Friday evening after CPI and CPM, with two MLAs each, extended their support to his party to form the govt. Yet, around midnight, he was one short of coronation.

TVK had the support of 117 legislators in the 234-member assembly, as VCK was yet to give its support in letter. VCK spokesman K K Pavalan posted a message in a media group that the party MLAs would issue letters of support to TVK on Saturday. An official statement from VCK said its leader Thol Thirumavalavan would make an announcement on Saturday.





Hours after the Left parties announced their support to TVK, Vijay called on governor R V Arlekar, and word spread that he would sail through with the support of the two IUML MLAs, and the swearing-in would happen on Saturday. Then, IUML said it would not support TVK.

CPM secretary P Shanmugam said his MLAs would support TVK to prevent governor’s rule in TN. “It will be like BJP entering the state through the back door. To prevent that, we have decided to support TVK,” he said. Shanmugam added they would not be part of the cabinet.

Meanwhile, AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran met the governor requesting him to invite AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami to form the govt. Speaking to the media outside Lok Bhavan, TTV alleged that his party’s lone MLA was incommunicado, and blamed TVK for his “disappearance”. “TVK is doing horse trading,” he said. However, he later told reporters that the MLA got scared after a forged letter was circulated that he has supported TVK.

With TVK appearing to touch the tape, reports of an AIADMK govt supported by DMK fizzled out.