Overview
- Vijay, who met Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Wednesday to stake claim, was told TVK lacked the numbers, and Lok Bhavan later announced the 16th Assembly was dissolved with effect from May 5.
- TVK holds 108 seats and rises to 113 with Congress backing, but Vijay must vacate one of his two wins, reducing TVK’s tally to 107 and lowering the majority threshold to 117.
- Left parties and the IUML have declared for the DMK, the VCK says it will decide soon, and talk of a DMK–AIADMK arrangement is disputed by sources in both parties.
- TVK moved dozens of its MLAs to a Mamallapuram resort and the AIADMK shifted some legislators to Puducherry as both parties guarded against poaching during negotiations.
- CPI and CPI(M) condemned the Governor’s stand on Thursday and cited the Supreme Court’s SR Bommai guidance that majorities are proven on the Assembly floor, as TVK considers legal options reported by the press.