The Congress on Wednesday agreed to support actor-turned-politician Vijay, Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam, to form a government in Tamil Nadu, but placed a condition.
The party said it was ready to support Vijay, but the support would be “conditional on TVK keeping out of this alliance any sectarian forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India.”
This comes after Vijay’s party approached the Congress for support after it failed to achieve a majority in Tamil Nadu by getting only 108 seats, while 118 seats are needed to form the government. Of these 108 seats, Vijay has won two seats and will have to give up one seat. Congress won five seats in the state.
Vijay has formally requested the grand old party to extend support to form the government in the state, the Congress said in a letter. “The people of Tamil Nadu, especially the youth, have given a very clear, strong and overwhelming verdict on a secular, progressive and pastoral government that believes in constitutional principles. They have chosen Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) led by Mr. Vijay to form the next government,” the Congress said in the letter.
She added that it is the “constitutional duty” of Congress to respect the mandate of the people in the state. “The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and Congress Legislative Party (CLP) have decided to extend their full support to TVK to form the government,” the statement read.
