For the first time in almost six decades, the Congress party is poised to be a part of the Tamil Nadu Cabinet with two of its MLAs set to be sworn in as ministers in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government on Thursday. This move follows the approval from Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge for the inclusion of Congress MLAs S.Rajesh Kumar and P.Viswanathan in the state Cabinet under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The decision is considered a significant development in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape and a notable reinforcement of the alliance backing the TVK government.
AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal confirmed the news via a social media post, hailing it as a landmark moment for the party. He expressed, “This is a historic occasion for us, as the Congress joins the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a long gap of 59 years.” Venugopal also conveyed his best wishes to the two leaders, expressing confidence in their commitment to fulfilling the people’s aspirations in Tamil Nadu through a welfare-focused governance approach. The Congress currently holds five MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and emerged as a crucial support for the TVK government post the Assembly election.
The support from Congress, in conjunction with allied parties like Left parties, VCK, and IUML, played a pivotal role in helping the Vijay-led administration comfortably surpass the majority mark in the Assembly. The induction of Congress ministers is not just viewed as a routine Cabinet expansion but as a strategic move by the TVK leadership to enhance alliance coordination and offer more representation to supporting parties while ensuring political stability. The upcoming swearing-in ceremony on Thursday is anticipated to usher in a new era in Tamil Nadu politics, marking Congress’s return to ministerial responsibilities in the state after an absence of nearly six decades.
