TVK Emerges as Single Largest Party in Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026; Congress Offers Conditional Support for Government Formation

Actor turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has made history in its electoral debut, winning 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections held on April 23, 2026. The party, which contested all 234 seats independently without any pre-poll alliances, has become the single largest party in the 234-member House but falls 10 seats short of the 118-seat majority required to form a government on its own.

According to results declared by the Election Commission of India, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) secured 59 seats, while the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) won 47 seats. The Congress, which had been part of the DMK-led alliance, won 5 seats. Other parties and independents accounted for the remaining seats.

Following the results, Vijay chaired a meeting with the newly elected TVK MLAs at the party headquarters in Chennai on May 5. The party has written to the Governor staking its claim to form the government and has sought time to prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly. Sources indicate TVK is exploring support from smaller parties and independents to secure the additional numbers.

In a key development, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee passed a unanimous resolution to extend conditional support to TVK for government formation. Congress leaders have stated that the decision follows a formal request from TVK chief Vijay. The party is seeking two cabinet berths and key corporation posts in return for its support, while emphasising the need for a secular alliance. The national Congress leadership has authorised the state unit to take the final decision.

TVK’s father-and-son leadership outreach has also been reported, with Vijay’s father, filmmaker S.A. Chandrasekhar, extending an invitation to the Congress for a potential alliance and indicating openness to power-sharing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay on TVK’s performance and assured continued central support for the state’s development. Rahul Gandhi also extended congratulations to the TVK chief.

The results mark a significant shift in Tamil Nadu politics, ending the long-standing dominance of the two major Dravidian parties in a single election cycle for the first time in nearly six decades. TVK’s performance was particularly strong in urban areas, western Tamil Nadu (including the Kongu belt), and among certain voter segments that had traditionally supported the DMK and AIADMK.

As of May 6, discussions on government formation are ongoing, with TVK moving to ensure stability of its MLAs. No final decision on the shape of the government has been announced, and the process remains subject to further political negotiations in the coming days.