Vijay’s TVK–VCK deal finalised? EPS congratulates ‘party’ set to form next Tamil Nadu govt in cryptic post

CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday congratulated the party set to form the next government in Tamil Nadu.

“In the recently concluded 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, candidates from various parties contested and emerged victorious. I extend my congratulations to the party that will form the government in Tamil Nadu,” Palaniswami said in a social media post.



Earlier in the day, Palaniswami held a closed-door meeting with newly elected MLAs at his Greenways Road camp office. Of the 47 MLAs, 42 attended the meeting.

Senior leaders S P Velumani and C Ve Shanmugam were present.

Decision by 4pm

The uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu may clear by Saturday evening when VCK, a long time ally of the Left parties, is expected to spell out its stand on the crucial question of extending support to TVK to form government.

The Vijay-led party faced serious allegations when NDA constituent AMMK accused it of alleged bid aimed at horse-trading. MLAs belonging to Congress, which has extended support to the TVK, have shifted to Hyderabad.

After the Left parties declared unconditional support to TVK to form the government asserting it was to prevent BJP's backdoor entry through Governor and to respect the people's mandate, VCK founder chief Thol Thirumavalavan immediately went into a huddle with his party office-bearers through video-conferencing on Friday.

While it was expected that the VCK would announce its stand on Saturday morning, the party has said the decision shall be made known by Thirumavalavan at 4pm, setting the political circles abuzz over.