Political uncertainty in India state as film star winner falls short of majority
TVKWhen film star-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay's newly-formed political party won the most number of seats in the recent election in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, it was hailed as historic.
But five days after Monday's vote-counting, political uncertainty prevails in the southern state, with no clarity on when a new government could be formed or who would form it.
Vijay's party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won 108 seats - leaving him 10 seats short of a majority in the 234-member assembly.
India's main opposition Congress party, which has five seats, has pledged support. But Vijay has to win support from at least five more members and there is still no clarity on who they would be.
On Wednesday, the superstar called on the state Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and staked claim to form the next government. He met the governor again on Thursday.
Hours later, the governor's office put out a press release explaining that "the requisite majority support in the legislative assembly, essential for forming the government, has not been established".
Indian media reports say the governor has insisted that Vijay submit proof that he has the support of 118 legislators needed to form government.
Some TVK leaders and its allies have criticised the governor's refusal to invite Vijay to form the government.
But analysts say the governor's priority is to ensure the formation of a stable government which will be able to prove its majority in the assembly.
Some constitutional experts, however, say there is enough precedent where the governor has invited the single largest party or coalition to form a government and given them time to prove their majority on the floor of the house. They say it is unfair to deny Vijay that opportunity.
Vijay's spectacular rise has been compared with that of matinee idol MG Ramachandran, who broke away from the established Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to form his own party - All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) - and become chief minister in 1977.
The state has, for decades, chosen between the DMK and the AIADMK and the TVK demolished that duopoly to emerge as the single largest party in the state election. The actor's party defeated the powerful incumbent DMK, led by MK Stalin.
In the past 48 hours, as uncertainty over the fate of TVK has continued, Indian media reports have hinted at all sorts of permutations and combinations that could be used to form a new government, including one that could see bitter rivals DMK and the AIADMK joining hands.
But some analysts say Vijay may still be able to win over some of the smaller parties and independent legislators to cobble together the magic number of 118 seats and form the government.
Tamil Nadu has long seen cinema mixing with power and Vijay has followed in the footsteps of film stars Ramachandran and his successor J Jayalalithaa who led the state for decades. However, unlike them, he doesn't have any political experience.
Popularly known as "Thalapathy" Vijay (General Vijay), the 51-year-old actor has appeared in 69 films and is among India's highest paid stars.
Soon after launching TVK in 2024, he announced that he would retire from films to pursue politics full-time.
