A political controversy arose in Tamil Nadu during the swearing-in ceremony of 23 new ministers in Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s Cabinet. The debate centered on the order of songs played, specifically Vande Mataram and the Tamil invocation song (Tamil Thai Vazhthu), at official state events. The opposition DMK criticized the government for playing Vande Mataram before the Tamil invocation, accusing them of neglecting Tamil traditions and introducing “BJP-style politics.”
The DMK’s IT wing expressed discontent on social media, highlighting the government’s deviation from the traditional practice of starting events with Tamil Thai Vazhthu and ending with the national anthem. The party emphasized the importance of upholding these customs and accused the government of failing to honor its previous commitments. Allegations were made against the government for allegedly succumbing to pressure from Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, whom they labeled as a BJP affiliate.
DMK representatives, including T.K.S. Elangovan and R.S. Bharathi, condemned the government’s actions, claiming a disregard for Tamil identity and heritage. Elangovan suggested that the administration was influenced by the Governor, leading to the neglect of Tamil customs. Bharathi emphasized Tamil Nadu’s historical resistance to Hindi imposition and the protection of its linguistic identity over the years. The controversy echoes a similar incident during Chief Minister Vijay’s own oath-taking ceremony on May 10, further fueling the ongoing debate over the sequence of songs played at official functions.
