Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Wednesday and formally staked his claim to form the government in the state.

Vijay, who had left his Chennai residence earlier in the day, met the Governor at around 3.20 pm.

He had on Tuesday sent an email communication to Lok Bhavan staking his claim to form the government, backed by his party MLAs, and expressed confidence in proving his majority on the floor of the House. The TVK has secured 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, including the two constituencies won by Vijay.

According to party sources, Vijay has also submitted a fresh letter reiterating his claim and requested the Governor to schedule the swearing-in ceremony at 11.30 am on May 7. Police officials said preparations are underway for the ceremony at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

In a significant political development, the Indian National Congress has extended its support to Vijay’s TVK to form the government, severing its long-standing alliance with the DMK. The decision was announced by AICC Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar, citing a formal request from Vijay seeking the party’s backing.

Congress workers celebrated the announcement at the party’s state headquarters, Satyamurthi Bhavan, bursting firecrackers to mark the occasion.

Chodankar, in a statement, said Vijay has formally requested the Congress party to extend its support for forming a government in Tamil Nadu.

“The people of Tamil Nadu, especially the youth, have delivered a very clear, strong and overwhelming verdict for a secular, progressive and welfarist government that believes in constitutional principles. They have chosen the TVK led by Vijay to form the next government.”

He said: "The Indian National Congress stands for, and is the founding political party for, secular, progressive and welfarist politics in India. It is our constitutional duty to respect, uphold and help fulfil this mandate of the people of Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) have decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government."