Chennai

Madurai City Congress Committee president Nallamani on Friday warned of a protest outside Raj Bhavan if Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar does not invite Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay to form the government following the Assembly election results.

Addressing reporters in Madurai, Nallamani accused the Governor of obstructing the government formation process and alleged that the BJP was influencing developments from behind the scenes.

He said the constitutional process required the Governor to invite the party claiming the numbers to form the government, adding that the test of majority should take place on the floor of the Assembly, not at Raj Bhavan.

“If the Governor does not invite TVK to form the government, we will lay siege to Raj Bhavan,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Congress workers staged a demonstration near Jhansi Rani Park in Madurai, accusing the BJP and the Governor of preventing TVK from assuming office despite the party emerging as a major claimant in the fractured verdict. More than 100 party cadres reportedly took part in the protest under Nallamani’s leadership.

The protesters also accused Governor Arlekar of acting contrary to constitutional norms. Following the demonstration, police deployed additional personnel in the area as a precautionary measure.

The Congress has extended conditional support to Vijay’s TVK after ending its alliance with the DMK, as the actor-turned-politician continues efforts to gather support from other parties in a bid to form the next government.

With the backing of five Congress MLAs, the TVK-led bloc currently has 112 members in the 234-member Assembly, six short of the majority mark of 118.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India, which have two MLAs each, are holding separate executive meetings to decide their future course. Support from both parties would raise the alliance’s tally to 117—just one seat short of a majority.

In Chennai, AIADMK leaders were seen arriving at the residence of party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami amid ongoing political developments.

TVK supporters also staged protests outside Lok Bhavan in Chennai, demanding that Vijay be invited to form the government.

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Several supporters gathered outside Vijay’s residence, expressing confidence that he would soon assume office as chief minister.