Four days after the Tamil Nadu assembly election results were announced, uncertainty over government formation continues as actor-politician Joseph Vijay's TVK party remains short of a majority in the state's assembly.

On Thursday, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, a member of the conservative Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had not yet demonstrated the majority support needed to stake a claim to power. After his second meeting with Vijay in two days, the governor stated that proving majority support was "essential" for government formation, according to an official release.

The TVK leadership said they are in talks with other parties to gain support. The Congress party has agreed, bringing the total number of seats to 113, with 118 needed for a majority. However, gaining the last 5 seats has proved elusive so far.

Governor Arlekar's unusual insistence that Vijay first submit 118 letters of support has drawn criticism even from TVK rivals. Criticizing the governor's stance, other parties said Vijay should be invited to form the government and allowed to prove his majority on the floor of the House.

Meanwhile, following the BJP's resounding victory in West Bengal, Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to meet newly elected party legislators in Kolkata to decide the state's first BJP chief minister. In Bihar, more than 150 children fell ill after eating a meal at school.

Source: www.dw.com