India news: Tamil Nadu struggles to form government

What you need to know

• With Joseph Vijay's TVK short of a majority, uncertainty over government formation continues in Tamil Nadu
• Governor Rajendra Arlekar said TVK had not yet demonstrated the majority support needed to claim power
• A 'frozen conflict':  One year since India-Pakistan clashes

Here is a roundup of the latest updates from India on Friday, May 8

Tamil Nadu without a government as deadlock continues

Four days after Tamil Nadu's Assembly election results were announced, uncertainty over government formation continues on Friday as actor-politician Joseph Vijay's TVK remains short of a majority.

On Thursday, governor of the southern Indian state, 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 said on Thursday that proving majority support was "essential" for government formation, according to an official release.

The TVK leadership said that 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. 

What do the numbers say?

• Seats newcomer party TVK won: 108 seats
• Seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly: 243
• Seats required to form a government: 118
• TVK seats with support of Congress party: 113

Governor Arlekar's a member of the conservative Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 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.

A 'frozen conflict': One year since India-Pakistan clashes

On May 7, 2025, India and Pakistan came to the brink of an all-out war. Experts weigh in on the nuclear neighbors' relationship a year on from the deadly four-day conflict.

A 'frozen conflict': One year since India-Pakistan clashes

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Welcome to our coverage

Hello! This is Shakeel from DW's New Delhi Studio bringing you the latest updates from across India.

We are looking at the deadlock in Tamil Nadu over government formation, as Joseph Vijay's newcomer Tamilaga
Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) hit an early hurdle after the governor asked the party to prove its majority support.

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.

Meanwhile, in Bihar, more than 150 children fell ill after eating a meal at school.

For all this and more, follow our live blog.