The political landscape of Tamil Nadu is undergoing a seismic shift, with the rise of actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party, TVK. The question now is no longer whether Vijay has arrived in Tamil Nadu politics, but whether the system will allow him to stay. For decades, the state had been dominated by two towering Dravidian forces—the DMK and the AIADMK. Governments changed, alliances shifted, leaders rose and fell, but the system remained largely the same. And then came Vijay. What many dismissed as star power without structure had suddenly transformed into the biggest political earthquake Tamil Nadu had witnessed in years. The numbers flashing on television screens told the story. TVK had won 108 seats, just ten short of the majority mark. The DMK had suffered a massive setback. The AIADMK too had failed to recover lost ground. The people of Tamil Nadu had clearly voted for change. But what is the inside scoop on the "game of thrones" that has played out in Chennai all this week? Will Vijay be able to run a stable government while having a wafer-thin majority? Personally, I think that the political landscape of Tamil Nadu is at a critical juncture. The old scripts no longer guarantee victory. The old rivalries no longer appear impossible to cross. And a state once dominated by two political titans suddenly finds itself staring at a completely new chapter. One thing that immediately stands out is the unprecedented level of cooperation between rival parties. For generations, DMK and AIADMK cadres had treated each other like sworn enemies. Entire political careers had been built attacking the other side. But now, whispers began emerging that sections within both camps were considering the unthinkable—joining hands to stop Vijay. Even within the DMK, there was confusion. Some leaders reportedly felt supporting AIADMK from outside was strategically smarter than allowing Vijay to rise as a fresh political force. Others strongly opposed the idea, arguing that the party’s entire identity was built around defeating the AIADMK, not rescuing it. This raises a deeper question: Could the DMK and AIADMK really have worked together? For older voters, the very thought felt surreal. This rivalry was not merely electoral—it was emotional and historical. It dated back to 1972 when MGR broke away from the DMK after differences with Karunanidhi and formed the AIADMK. Since then, the two parties had fought some of the fiercest political battles in Indian history. What makes this situation particularly fascinating is the role of the Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Vijay, buoyed by public support and media momentum, wanted to move fast. He made multiple trips to meet the Governor, pressing for an immediate oath-taking ceremony. TVK leaders argued that, as the single largest formation with support commitments, they had the moral and democratic right to form the government. But the Governor chose caution. Insisting on constitutional procedure, he asked Vijay to furnish formal letters of support proving he had the numbers required to command majority support in the Assembly. The delay immediately triggered political outrage. Congress leaders accused the Governor of stalling Vijay intentionally. Opposition voices pointed towards Arlekar’s ideological background and questioned whether there was pressure to prevent Vijay from taking power quickly. The Governor, however, maintained that his only concern was stability. In my opinion, the Governor’s actions raise important questions about the balance of power between the executive and the judiciary. From my perspective, the Governor’s insistence on formal letters of support suggests a desire to maintain a certain level of control over the political process. This raises a deeper question: Should a Governor assess majority support inside Lok Bhavan through letters and meetings? Or should the decision be left entirely to the Assembly floor? The future of Tamil Nadu politics remains uncertain. Will Vijay be able to form a stable government? Will the old rivalries be able to cross? The question now is no longer whether Vijay has arrived in Tamil Nadu politics. The question is whether the system will allow him to stay. In my opinion, the answer to this question will depend on the ability of the political parties to work together and the role of the Governor in maintaining stability. Only time will tell if Vijay’s government can survive the challenges ahead.
