CHENNAI — Citing an urgent need to preserve the state's political traditions, leaders of two rival parties confirmed they are exploring a historic coalition to ensure the party that won 108 assembly seats is successfully excluded from governance. The combined opposition, holding 59 and 47 seats respectively, announced they are fully prepared to set aside decades of bitter animosity to overcome their 106-seat mathematical hurdle.

To protect the integrity of this newly discovered unity, lawmakers have been securely transported to a resort in neighboring Puducherry. Party officials confirmed they are relying on the exact same sequestering tactics utilized during the 2017 leadership struggle, noting that the resort's isolation measures have a proven track record of preventing defection while democratic modalities are worked out.

"The electoral mandate is quite clear: the people gave a new political entrant 108 seats, which is precisely ten short of the 118 required for a majority," said a senior party official recently authorized to make emergency decisions. "Therefore, it is our constitutional duty to combine our 59 and 47 seats into a 106-seat bloc, which grants us the undisputed moral authority to govern."

At press time, the Governor was utilizing his discretionary powers to demand the 108-seat party produce definitive proof of its majority, while affording the 106-seat alliance adequate time to evaluate the Puducherry resort's buffet options.