Actor ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay has secured the majority mark of 118 to form government in Tamil Nadu after support extended by VCK, CPI(M) and CPI to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), reports Hindustan Times.

A formal announcement backing TVK was expected at a joint presser in Chennai later in the evening on Friday, potentially clearing the way for government formation.

Explaining the decision to extend support to the TVK, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby told HT that these parties do not want president rule in Tamil Nadu. They also argued that in 1998 Atal Bihari Vajpayee was given a chance to prove majority even as it was the single-largest party.

The breakthrough brings to an end the three-day long struggle to secure the magic number, which debutant TVK fell short of by just 10 seats in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu election in which it won a whopping 108 seats.

The Tamil superstar’s two-year old party already has the support of Congress, which won five seats, bringing the tally to 113 in the 234-member assembly.

The Communist Party of India (CPI), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPIM) won two seats each in the election and their support will take the tally to 119.