Actor C. Joseph Vijay, also known as the President of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), took office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. This historic event marked the conclusion of almost sixty years of alternating governance between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vijay at a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.
Nine ministers were sworn in alongside Vijay to form the new council of ministers. The ceremony was attended by various national and regional political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, as well as film personalities, party workers, and numerous supporters. To ensure security, authorities implemented extensive measures in and around the venue, with heavy police presence, intensified vehicle checks, and strict access control.
Special seating arrangements were made for distinguished guests at the swearing-in function. Notably, seats in the front row were reserved for Vijay’s parents, veteran filmmaker S.A. Chandrasekhar and Shobha Chandrasekhar, along with actor Trisha Krishnan and her mother. Vijay assumed office after his alliance, led by TVK, garnered the support of 120 MLAs in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, surpassing the majority mark of 118 required to establish the government.
The TVK emerged as the largest party in the recent Assembly elections but fell short of a majority, leading to intense political negotiations. The uncertainty concluded after the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) extended their support to Vijay’s formation. Earlier, the Congress, the Communist Party of India (CPI), and the Communist Party of India-Marxist had also endorsed the TVK, enabling Vijay to stake claim to form the government.
Following the acquisition of support, Vijay met with Governor Arlekar and submitted letters of support from all five allies. The Governor appointed Vijay as Chief Minister-designate and instructed him to seek a vote of confidence in the Assembly by May 13. Vijay’s swearing-in signifies a significant shift in Tamil Nadu politics, with a non-Dravidian party assuming power for the first time since 1967. This development is seen as a substantial realignment in the state’s political landscape, traditionally dominated by the DMK and AIADMK.
