In a post on X, Vembu remarked that “the numbers don’t seem to add up” and suggested that any government formed through post-election negotiations could easily become “unstable, subject to various pulls and pressures.”
“President’s rule with fresh elections may be the best course,” Vembu stated, emphasizing that any re-election should enforce strict measures against “cash for votes.”
Under President’s Rule, the state government is suspended, and the administration is directly managed by the Centre through the Governor, per Article 356 of the Constitution. The Assembly may either remain in suspended animation or be dissolved, while Parliament takes over the authority to legislate for the state until a new elected government is established.
These remarks come as Tamil Nadu finds itself without a decisive government after actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) became the single largest party but fell short of a majority in the 234-member Assembly.
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TVK secured 108 seats, while the DMK-led coalition was reduced to 73 seats, and the AIADMK-led NDA managed 53 seats, resulting in a hung Assembly—a first for the state in decades.
Vembu expressed his belief that TVK could achieve a “super majority” in a new election and remarked that if Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam aim to prevent that from happening, “let them collaborate.”
He also suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party should contest independently in Tamil Nadu, “even if it leads to zero seats,” declaring it as “time for a fresh start for the BJP in TN.”
These comments arrive amidst rapidly evolving alliance dynamics within the state.
On Wednesday, Congress formally ended its 11-year alliance with the DMK and extended conditional support to TVK.
In a separate development, reports indicated that AIADMK had briefly considered supporting TVK to form the government, though the party has denied this.
Meanwhile, DMK leader MK Stalin remarked, “let Vijay form the government,” noting that the DMK would observe TVK “without interference.”
TVK leader Vijay met with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to claim the opportunity to form the government, but the Governor was reportedly doubtful that the party has shown the necessary majority support.
