Tamil Nadu is not a state known for fractured mandates. For decades, voters in the state have delivered decisive verdicts, largely alternating between the two Dravidian giants, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), and rarely leaving room for post-poll arithmetic. 

That is what makes the 2026 assembly election result extraordinary.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), contesting its debut election, has not only outperformed both the DMK and AIADMK but has also pushed the state towards a hung assembly. When no party or alliance gets a simple majority, that is crossing the halfway mark, then it is considered a hung assembly. 

The Tamil Nadu assembly has 234 seats, with 118 required for a simple majority to form the government. As counting trends stand, TVK is emerging as the single largest party but appears to be falling short of the halfway mark by around eight to 10 seats, depending on the final tally.

If these numbers hold, TVK will face the immediate challenge of stitching together a workable majority.

What are TVK’s options?

The arithmetic suggests that TVK may not need an........

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