The Congress party on Wednesday formally announced its support to actor-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form the next government in Tamil Nadu, while making it clear that the backing would remain conditional on keeping “communal forces” away from the alliance, news agency PTI reported.

A statement issued by Congress' Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar said TVK President Vijay had officially sought the party’s support after emerging as the single largest party in the recently concluded Assembly elections. The Congress described the electoral verdict as a strong mandate for a “secular, progressive and welfare-oriented government” rooted in constitutional values.