Tamil Nadu: After defeat in the Assembly polls, Dravidian parties face unprecedented crisis

It did not take much for long-standing political alignments in Tamil Nadu to break down after the stunning election results on Monday. After the loss by the two Dravidian parties, which had between them ruled the state for six decades, the Congress ditched the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance and backed the largest party, the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam.

The TVK, led by the charismatic actor-turned-politician Vijay, secured 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly and needs 118 to reach the majority mark. The Congress, with five MLAs in its kitty, grabbed the opportunity gleefully.

With smaller outfits like the Left parties considering Vijay’s request for support, it looks likely that the TVK will manage to muster the numbers. On Wednesday, Vijay formally staked claim to form the government though it was still not clear on Thursday morning if the governor would invite him to form the government.

In the meantime, media reports emerged that a strong section within the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam want the party to extend support to the TVK, even though Vijay had not officially reached out to it as he had to the Left and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.

These developments point to a crisis for both Dravidian parties, albeit of different degrees. The...

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