Senior AIADMK leader Thambidurai has expressed confidence in the return of Edappadi K Palaniswami to power in Tamil Nadu.

Chennai: Senior AIADMK leader Thambidurai has expressed confidence Edappadi K PalaniswamiPolitical talks have intensified in Tamil Nadu after a fractured mandate in the state assembly elections to return to power. After meeting the EPS in Chennai on Friday, Thambidurai said, “Let’s wait and see. Edappadiyar is going to be the next CM, and he will give good governance,” indicating pressure from the party to form a post-poll alliance. He further said, “The sentiment of the people was clearly in favor of our leader returning to power, as we saw during his campaigns. By the grace of God, this will happen at the appropriate time.” The comments come amid the volatile political situation in Tamil Nadu, where smaller parties have emerged as major players in government formation talks following a hung verdict in the 234-member assembly. Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), which won 108 seats, has reshaped the political arithmetic. Congress has extended its support with five seats, taking the number of the emerging faction to 113. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India, both with two MLAs each, are holding separate executive meetings to decide their next course of action. Their support could take the TVK-led group to 117 seats – just one short of the majority mark of 118. CPI(M) leader P Shanmugam said the party has received formal communication from TVK chief Vijay. He said, “The TVK chief has sent a letter to our party. Our state committee meeting will be held tomorrow morning; we will take our decision in that.” He said, “As per the Constitution, it is the TVK that should be allowed to form the government. We have never seen such a situation in a Tamil Nadu assembly election, and now we have a hung assembly. It is the Governor who should invite Vijay to form the government because he is leading,” Shanmugam said. Meanwhile, the Viduthalai Chiruthigal Katchi (VCK), which was earlier part of the DMK alliance and held two seats, is also set to call a high-level meeting to decide its stand. If CPI(M), CPI, VCK and Congress formally support TVK, the alliance will cross the majority threshold. Meanwhile, AIADMK, the third largest party with 47 seats, has intensified internal discussions as its leaders keep meeting General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami will explore alliance options The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is also scheduled to hold a review meeting on the election results under the leadership of state president Nainar Nagendran at its headquarters in Chennai. The series of meetings reflects the ongoing high-level talks following the hung assembly verdict, making government formation dependent on post-poll alliance.