Chennai: With five Congress MLAs extending support, TVK leader Vijay welcomed them at the party’s headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, by draping shawls. The MLAs later handed over a letter formally conveying their backing.
The Congress had contested 28 seats as part of the DMK-led alliance and won five constituencies. TVK, which won 108 seats, needed additional MLAs to demonstrate a majority in the Assembly.
Following the Congress leadership’s announcement that its MLAs would support TVK, Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Sodankar and the five MLAs visited the TVK office. After their support, TVK’s strength in the House has risen to 112; Vijay’s win in two constituencies is counted as one seat.
Vijay is scheduled to take oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on May 7. Preparations are under way at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where the last swearing-in ceremony was held in 2006 for the Karunanidhi-led cabinet.
Security arrangements for the event are being coordinated under the responsibility of DIG Dharmarajan, according to the report.
