Tamil Nadu Political Crisis: Governor Refuses to Swear In Thalapathy Vijay, Talks of New Alliance Intensify

Chennai, May 7: A cloud of crisis hangs over the proposed swearing-in ceremony on May 7 of Thalapathy Vijay, leader of the newly-formed Tamil Maanila Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), which emerged as the single largest party in the recent Tamil Nadu assembly elections. State Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar is not satisfied with Vijay's claim that he has the support of 118 MLAs for the required majority. Vijay had requested to be sworn-in on May 7 itself, but has been denied a green signal by the governor. On the other hand, talks of a new political alliance taking shape in the state have intensified. There is talk in Chennai's political corridors that the state's two arch-rivals, the DMK and the AIADMK, are in talks to form a government. Sources have said that leaders of both the opposition parties are secretly talking about the issue. Meanwhile, sources in the AIADMK have confirmed to India Today that talks between the two arch-rivals, Vijay and Rathod, are yet to reach a conclusive point.