Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has declined for a second time to invite Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay to form the government, citing the party's failure to provide letters of support from a majority of MLAs. Following a hung verdict in the 234-seat assembly, the TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats but remains five short of the 118-mark required for a majority.

Vijay is currently exploring legal options after consulting senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who cited Sarkaria Commission guidelines stating the single largest party must be invited to form the government first. The TVK-Congress bloc currently stands at 113 seats after the Congress ended its 11-year alliance with the DMK to offer conditional support to Vijay.

TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar has formally approached the CPI and CPM to bridge the five-seat deficit, while VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan remains the decisive factor for the remaining six seats held by the smaller parties. The DMK, led by M.K. Stalin, has secured 59 seats and stated it will sit in the opposition, officially denying rumors of a potential alliance with the AIADMK.

In a parallel development, AIADMK MLAs have been moved to a resort in Puducherry under the supervision of C.T. Shanmugam to prevent potential defections. The AIADMK, which holds 47 seats, has argued that a TVK-led government with a slender majority would be inherently unstable.

The VCK, CPI, and CPM are expected to announce their stance on extending formal support to the TVK within the next 48 hours. Legal representatives for the TVK are reportedly prepared to move the court if the Governor does not issue an invitation to stake a claim.