Chennai, May 8: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) warned that all its 107 MLAs will resign if either the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) attempts to form the government in Tamil Nadu, sources said on Tuesday.

The warning came amid mounting political uncertainty after crucial meetings in both DMK and AIADMK camps. TVK leaders now suspect that the two Dravidian rivals may be exploring ways to form a government together while keeping the party with the largest mandate out of power.

TVK Stakes Claim As Single Largest Party
TVK, led by actor-politician Vijay, won 107 seats in the Assembly elections and maintains that, as the single-largest party, it should be invited by Governor RV Arlekar to form the government.

However, the Governor reportedly declined Vijay’s request to stake claim, saying the party lacked the required numbers. Sources said Vijay had presented a roadmap to secure majority support, but the Governor insisted on letters of backing from at least 118 MLAs.

A Raj Bhavan statement said the “requisite majority support in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, essential for forming the Government, has not been established”.

TVK currently requires 10 more MLAs to cross the majority mark. The party already has support from the Indian National Congress, which has five legislators, while discussions are reportedly underway with Left parties and smaller regional outfits. Sources indicated the party is also considering moving court.

DMK Discusses Emergency Options
The DMK held a meeting earlier in the day and passed four resolutions, including one authorising party chief MK Stalin to take “emergency decisions”.

The party stated, “Our primary aim is to avert another election, to have a stable government and not give room to communal forces.”

Calling the fractured verdict a “complicated crisis”, the DMK directed all its MLAs to remain in Chennai till May 10.

Also Read: AIADMK Plays Hardball as Vijay’s TVK Struggle for Majority to Form Government

Senior DMK sources reportedly told NDTV that a possible arrangement under consideration involves AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami becoming Chief Minister with outside support from the DMK.

Sources said younger DMK leaders, particularly those aligned with Udhayanidhi Stalin, fear that once Vijay comes to power, he could emerge as a long-term political force similar to MG Ramachandran, who had kept the DMK out of office for years.

However, senior DMK leaders, including Stalin, are reportedly cautious about public backlash over any understanding between two parties that have been political rivals for decades.

AIADMK Maintains Wait-And-Watch Strategy
The AIADMK has also asked its MLAs to stay alert and maintain a wait-and-watch approach. While a section within the party reportedly favours aligning with TVK, senior leaders have ruled out such a possibility for now.

More than 45 AIADMK MLAs attended a meeting with Palaniswami on Tuesday evening. Sources said he told legislators there was “no relation” between AIADMK and TVK and asked them to remain calm for the next two days.

Governor’s Position Draws Criticism
The Governor’s stand has also drawn criticism from TVK’s potential allies and other opposition leaders.

The Tamil Nadu unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) said it was “inappropriate” for the Governor to ask Vijay to prove majority support before swearing-in.

The party said, “As the single largest party, TVK must be given an opportunity by the Governor, in accordance with the Constitution, to prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly,” citing Supreme Court judgments including the S. R. Bommai v. Union of India case.

Thol Thirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), also backed Vijay, stating that the Governor cannot demand a list of supporting MLAs before allowing the single-largest party to take oath and prove its majority on the Assembly floor.

Interestingly, the outgoing DMK too criticised the Governor’s decision, terming it “unacceptable” and “a disrespect” to the mandate. Actor-politician Kamal Haasan also voiced support for Vijay.