Hours after becoming the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C. Joseph Vijay appointed senior IAS officers P. Senthil Kumar and G. Lakshmi Priya as his principal aides in the Chief Minister’s Office. Senthil Kumar, previously in the Health Department, is now the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, also known as Special Secretary–1. Lakshmi Priya, from the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, is appointed as Special Secretary–2.
The tradition in Tamil Nadu involves three Special Secretaries and a Joint Secretary assisting the Chief Minister, each with specific departmental roles. Vijay’s appointments follow his formal takeover at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat after the swearing-in ceremony. Upon arriving, he received a ceremonial guard of honor and was briefed on administrative matters before occupying his new office.
Vijay’s emotional and surprised demeanor was noted as he took his seat in the Chief Minister’s chamber for the first time. Senior officials welcomed him, and Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan encouraged him to assume his role. Assembly Secretary Srinivasan and other officials congratulated and greeted the new Chief Minister during his visit.
The recent appointments mark a shift from the previous DMK government led by M.K. Stalin. During Stalin’s tenure, officers like Udayachandran, Shanmugam, and Anu George served as Special Secretaries. The transition also saw Umanath’s appointment after Udayachandran moved to the Finance Department in 2024. Celebrations across Tamil Nadu marked the beginning of Vijay’s term as Chief Minister.
