CPI, CPI(M) meetings begin to decide on extending support for government formation in Tamil Nadu

VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan hands over the party’s letter of support to TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna on Saturday

| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) national president K.M. Kader Mohideen on Saturday (May 9, 2026) extended unconditional support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the government in Tamil Nadu.In identically worded letters, similar to those sent by the Left parties and addressed to the Governor, Mr. Thirumavalavan and Mr. Mohideen said their respective parties extended unconditional support to the TVK, under the leadership of party president C. Joseph Vijay, to form the government. Both parties have two MLAs-elect each. They contested as a part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

IUML national president K.M. Kader Mohideen hands over the party’s letter of support to TVK leaders on Saturday

| Photo Credit:

Special Arrangement

The letter of support from the IUML came as a surprise, as Mr. Mohideen had previously stated the party remained firmly within the DMK-led alliance and had not issued any letter backing the party led by Mr. Vijay.With the backing of the VCK and the IUML, the TVK now has the support of 120 MLAs-elect, (as Mr. Vijay contested from two seats), two more than the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member House. The TVK, which won 108 seats, had already secured the support of five Congress MLAs-elect and two each from the CPI and the CPI(M). Published - May 09, 2026 05:24 pm IST

VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan hands over the party’s letter of support to TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna on Saturday

| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

IUML national president K.M. Kader Mohideen hands over the party’s letter of support to TVK leaders on Saturday

| Photo Credit:

Special Arrangement

Edappadi K. Palaniswami. File

| Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

Amid the intense speculation surrounding the formation of a new government in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who had remained silent until now, has extended his congratulations to the party set to take office.Tamil Nadu government formation LIVEIn an official statement, he noted: “In the recently concluded 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, candidates from various parties contested and emerged victorious. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the party that will be forming the government in Tamil Nadu.”The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor C. Joseph Vijay, emerged the single-largest party, securing 108 seats in the Assembly – a few seats short of the simple-majority mark. Parties like the Congress, CPI, and CPI(M) – part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) – have extended support to Mr. Vijay to form the government. The VCK is yet to announce its official stand on the matter. Published - May 09, 2026 03:48 pm IST

Tamil Nadu government formation LIVE: Suspense continues over govt formation, VCK to announce stance on supporting Vijay’s TVK today financialexpress.com Enhanced security cover given to Vijay withdrawn The Hindu Vijay's Bodyguard Pens Cryptic Note Ahead Of TVK Chief's Oath Taking: 'Stay Confident, Then...' | Tamil Cinema News News18 Vijay's Swearing-In Put On Hold As VCK Delays Support, Missing MLA Adds To Tamil Nadu Drama Swarajyamag TVK cadres upset over delay in Vijay’s swearing in The Times of India

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy flagging off buses carrying pilgrims at the Haj House in Hyderabad on Friday.

HyderabadChief Minister A. Revanth Reddy reiterated that the State Government would bear the additional financial burden on Haj pilgrims this year, arising out of increased air travel costs due to the ongoing West Asia crisis.Flagging off buses carrying pilgrims at the Haj House on Friday, he said that the government would ensure pilgrims were not subjected to hardship, and decided to absorb the extra expenditure.He said that Congress government respects all religions and treats Hindus and Muslims as brothers. He recalled how the government had extended support to the bereaved families of the Saudi Arabia bus accident, sanctioning compensation of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the deceased.Mr. Reddy cautioned against alleged attempts to delete voters’ names under the guise of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and appealed to people to remain united and resist such efforts in Telangana.The CM observed that global demand for blue collar jobs was higher than white collar employment and pointed out that countries such as Germany and Japan offered more opportunities in skilled sectors. The government is already upgrading Industrial Training Institutes into Advanced Training Centres to equip youth with globally competitive skills, he said.Later, during a high-level review meeting on minority welfare, he announced the establishment of special Degree colleges for minorities in the headquarters of erstwhile districts. He said these institutions would focus on skill development and Artificial Intelligence training instead of merely offering conventional degree courses.Mr. Reddy also directed officials to formulate a dedicated incentive programme for minority students on the lines of schemes being implemented for BC, SC and ST meritorious students. He instructed officials to identify minority candidates selected for Group-1, Group-2 and Group-3 services and mentor them.He also ordered the timely release of honorariums to Imams and Mouzams and announced that land would be allotted for Kabarastans in areas where government land was available.As part of the Musi rejuvenation project, the Chief Minister instructed officials to construct a mosque, church and gurudwara alongside a temple to reflect Telangana’s composite “Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb.” He said these institutions should evolve into centres for understanding different faiths, cultures and India’s pluralistic traditions.Minority Welfare Minister Mohammed Azharuddin and Government Adviser Mohammed Shabbir Ali were present. Published - May 08, 2026 09:50 pm IST

A man walks past a banner of actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Chandrasekaran Joseph Vijay. File.

| Photo Credit:

PTI

May 09, 2026 06:55 Plea in Supreme Court says Governor is ‘duty-bound’ to invite TVK to form government in Tamil Nadu A writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Friday (May 8, 2026), submitting that the Tamil Nadu Governor is duty-bound to invite Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party president C. Joseph Vijay, as the leader of the single largest party, was to form the government in the State and later prove the majority on the floor of the House.The petition filed by Ezhilarasi P., who said she is a TVK party member based in Chennai, cited media reports that Governor Rajendra Arlekar may invite post-poll coalition parties in Tamil Nadu to form the government.Click here to read more on this...May 09, 2026 06:54 Tamil Nadu Congress MLAs camping in Hyderabad amid uncertainty in government formation Five Tamil Nadu Congress MLAs are camping in Hyderabad even as the suspense over Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony continued.A senior functionary of the Congress party confirmed to

The Hindu about the MLAs camping in Hyderabad.Click here to read more... Published - May 09, 2026 06:52 am IST

CPI(M) Tamil Nadu General Secretary P. Shanmugam, right, and CPI State General Secretary M. Veerapandian during a joint press conference to announce their support to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) following the state election results, at party headquarters, in Chennai, on May 8, 2026.

| Photo Credit: PTI

The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Friday (May 8, 2026) sent a letter to Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar offering unconditional support to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) under the leadership of its legislative party leader C. Joseph Vijay for the purpose of forming the government in Tamil Nadu.Also Read | Tamil Nadu government formation updatesVIDEO | Delhi: "CPI has agreed to extend support to Vijay and his party TVK to form govt in TN", says CPI Gen Secy D Raja. pic.twitter.com/lDV1V7UQvc— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026The CPI’s letter was sent under the instructions of State secretary M. Veerapandian and Legislature Party Leader T. Ramachandran, while the CPI(M) communication was issued by State secretary P. Shanmugam and newly elected Legislature Party Leader R. Chellaswamy. Copies of both letters were also sent to Mr. Vijay.

The letter sent by Mr. Ramachandran said the support was conveyed in the interest of stable, secular and democratic governance for the people of Tamil Nadu. Photo: Special Arrangement

The letter sent by Mr. Ramachandran said the support was conveyed in the interest of stable, secular and democratic governance for the people of Tamil Nadu. “I request your excellency to take on record my unconditional support,” Mr. Ramachandran said.

CPI(M) communication was issued by State Secretary P. Shanmugam and newly elected Legislature Party Leader R. Chellaswamy. Copies of both letters were also sent to Mr. Vijay. Photo: Special Arrangement.

Both parties said their support was being extended in the interest of ensuring a stable, secular, and democratic government for

the people of Tamil Nadu.“I request Your Excellency to take on record our unconditional support,” Mr. Ramachandran and Mr. Chellaswamy said in their respective letters. Published - May 08, 2026 05:24 pm IST

The Karnataka Cooperative Oilseed Growers’ Federation will serve as the State government’s procurement agency.

| Photo Credit: File photo

The State government has ordered the procurement of sunflower seeds for the 2025-26 rabi season at a support price of ₹7,721 per quintal in 11 districts under the support price scheme.Sugar, Textiles and Agricultural Marketing Minister Shivanand Patil has directed authorities to open procurement centres in Bagalkot, Belagavi, Ballari, Vijayapura, Chamarajanagar, Chitradurga, Gadag, Kalaburagi, Vijayanagara, Raichur, and Dharwad districts, in accordance with the Union government’s support price guidelines.The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and the National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Ltd. (NCCF) have been appointed as the Union government’s procurement agencies, while the Karnataka Cooperative Oilseed Growers’ Federation will serve as the State government’s procurement agency.Farmers must complete registration within the next 50 days, while procurement will be carried out over the following 60 days. Deputy commissioners, who head the District Task Force Committees, have been instructed to begin the registration and procurement process immediately.To facilitate farmers in rural areas, procurement centres will be opened in collaboration with organisations that have warehouses equipped with the necessary technical and scientific facilities. Mr. Patil said preparations should begin early to ensure there are no issues during registration and procurement.He also directed officials to ensure that traders and procurement agencies do not misuse the support price procurement centres in the name of farmers.Mr. Patil said officials have been asked to provide details of the procurement progress daily to the State government and the Karnataka State Agricultural Marketing Board. Published - May 08, 2026 06:56 pm IST

A view of the CPI(M) headquarters in Chennai. FIle

The crucial state secretariat meetings of the CPI and CPI(M) begun in Chennai on Friday (May 8, 2026) to discuss their course of action in the formation of the next government in Tamil Nadu following the fractured mandate in the Assembly elections, in which no party/front has secured majority.The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s decision on the issue would depend on the outcome of the meetings of the Left parties.T.N. Government formation LIVE updatesThe three parties, which had won two seats each on the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance platform, will decide on two possibilities. One, whether to extend support to a government to be formed by the AIADMK with the outside backing of the DMK. Two, whether to back actor C. Joseph Vijay’s TVK, which has emerged as the largest single party with 108 seats.According to sources, the Left parties are unlikely to support an AIADMK government. However, the TVK too can stake claim to form the government only if the Left parties and the VCK extend letters of support.The State secretariat meeting of the Left parties will be followed by a discussion in their respective state committees at 2.30 p.m.| Video Credit:

S. Shivaraj

Published - May 08, 2026 12:28 pm IST

CPI, CPI(M) meetings begin to decide on extending support for government formation in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu government formation: VCK, IUML extend unconditional support to Vijay’s TVK

Tamil Nadu government formation: VCK, IUML extend unconditional support to Vijay’s TVK

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