Tamil Nadu CM Vijay resigns from Tiruchi East Assembly seat, retains Perambur

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay, who had won two seats in the election results declared on May 4, resigned on Sunday as member elected from the Tiruchi East constituency in the Assembly, reported The Hindu.

The actor-turned-politician is retaining the Perambur seat in northern Chennai. The resignation will necessitate a bye-poll to Tiruchi East constituency.

He took oath as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu earlier in the day in a ceremony attended by the Congress’ Rahul Gandhi and other leaders.

With the TVK forming the government in Tamil Nadu, the state has, for the first time in nearly six decades, broken away from the alternating rule of its two dominant Dravidian parties: the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

However, Governor Rajendra Arlekar has directed Vijay to seek a vote of confidence in the Assembly by May 13.

This came days after the TVK, on its electoral debut, emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Vijay’s party won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, falling short of the majority mark of 118. It required the support of smaller parties to form the government.

With Vijay vacating the Tiruchi East seat, the effective strength of TVK is at 107.

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