M.A. Baby dismisses DMK-AIADMK alliance rumours, urges Governor to invite TVK to form government

Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M.A. Baby dismissed as “rumours” the claims that the DMK and the AIADMK were planning to forge an alliance to form the government in the State.

Speaking to the media in Madurai on Saturday (May 9, 2026), he said the people’s mandate was clearly in favour of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which emerged as the single-largest party in the 2026 Assembly elections, though it was 11 seats short of a majority for forming the government.

“The verdict was clearly against both the incumbent DMK government and the Opposition AIADMK,” he added.

Even when Supreme Court verdicts and precedents were clear that the Governor should invite the single-largest party to form the government, Mr. Baby alleged, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was acting against the “time-tested democratic practice.”

“It is none of the business of the Governor, as per convention. In the 1990s, when former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was to form the government, he neither had the majority nor the numbers. Yet, the President gave the nod to form the government,” Mr. Baby recalled.

‘BJP manipulating political situation’

He stated that while they were protesting the Governor’s move, they had also become aware of the Union government’s attempts “to sabotage the people’s verdict by manipulating the political situation” in the State. Reports emerged suggesting attempts to alter the electoral verdict of the people of Tamil Nadu and efforts to install a BJP-backed government, he alleged.

Consequently, after consulting with its State Executive and State Committee, the CPI(M) wrote to the Governor urging him to invite the single-largest party, the TVK, to form the government. The letter also mentioned that CPI(M) MLAs were ready to offer support, he said.

On reports of the DMK’s “attempts” to support the AIADMK in forming the government, Mr. Baby, dismissing the claims, said: “We understood that as a rumour. Even if the AIADMK was forming the government, it would need our [CPI(M)] support in proving the majority. In such a situation, we do not want to give space to the AIADMK, which is part of the NDA, to form a government through the backdoor,” he asserted.

Mr. Baby stated that the decision was taken after consultation with the party’s Politburo and that the DMK leadership was also informed about it.

When asked about allegations regarding horse-trading, he stated he had no information on that, but claimed that the Governor’s actions were why such discussions were arising.

He alleged that the BJP might go as far as bifurcating Tamil Nadu into two Union Territories if it is unable to achieve its political objectives.