Vijay’s TVK mulls mass resignation: Tamil Nadu to president’s rule?

Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by actor-turned-politician Vijay, has emerged as the single largest force in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections with 108 seats but remains short of the 118 seats required for a majority in the 234-member Assembly.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has stated that Vijay must prove majority support before being invited to form the government. Amid the uncertainty, TVK leaders are reportedly considering the mass resignation of all 108 party MLAs.

According to reports, the proposed resignations are aimed at preventing rival parties from forming a government without a clear mandate. If all 108 MLAs resign, the effective strength of the Assembly would reduce to 126, lowering the majority mark to 64. This could allow a coalition involving the DMK and AIADMK to claim majority support in the reduced House.

The move could also lead to a constitutional crisis and raise the possibility of President’s Rule under Article 356 if the Governor determines that the Assembly no longer reflects the electoral mandate. The Governor would have to decide whether the remaining Assembly can provide a stable government.

The Speaker of the Assembly can also examine whether the resignations are voluntary and has the authority to delay or reject them if there are concerns about coercion or procedural misuse. This could result in legal challenges before the Madras High Court.

If the resignations are accepted, by-elections would have to be conducted in the 108 vacant constituencies within six months, as required under election laws.