Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader C. Joseph Vijay is set to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at 10 a.m. on Sunday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. This marks a significant political change in the state after the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK. The swearing-in ceremony is anticipated to be attended by various national and regional leaders, including Rahul Gandhi.
More than 5,000 guests are expected to be present at the event, with tight security measures in place around the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. Vijay’s ascension to power follows TVK emerging as the largest party in the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, securing 108 seats in the 234-member House. Despite falling short of the majority mark, Vijay garnered support from multiple parties to form the government.
The Congress party, with five seats, extended unconditional support to TVK post-election. Additionally, the Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) also contributed members. With the backing of these parties, Vijay obtained the support of 120 MLAs, surpassing the majority requirement for government formation.
After receiving letters of support from alliance partners, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar invited Vijay to form the government, instructing him to prove his majority in the Assembly before May 13. Vijay’s rise in Tamil Nadu politics is seen as a significant moment, with TVK becoming the third major political entity to govern the state after the DMK and AIADMK eras. Alongside Vijay, several senior TVK leaders are expected to be sworn in as ministers today.
Heavy security measures, including police deployment, traffic diversions, and stringent security arrangements, have been implemented in and around the venue ahead of the high-profile event.
