Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, arrived in Chennai to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of C. Joseph Vijay as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Gandhi was welcomed by senior Congress leaders and TVK functionaries amidst tight security arrangements. This event is significant as Vijay is set to lead a coalition-supported government following a closely contested Assembly election.
Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), secured 107 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly. With additional support from Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML, Vijay surpassed the majority mark with 120 MLAs. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has invited Vijay to form the government and prove his majority by May 13 in the Assembly.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai at 10 a.m. Apart from Vijay, nine ministers are expected to take the oath. Key TVK leaders like K.A. Sengottaiyan and Aadhav Arjuna, along with alliance representatives, are likely to be part of the initial cabinet. The event signifies a significant political transition in Tamil Nadu, marking the first time in nearly sixty years that a government not led by DMK or AIADMK is assuming power.
Noted Tamil filmmaker S.A. Chandrashekhar, father of Vijay, expressed delight over his son’s new role as Chief Minister. Chandrashekhar described the occasion as emotional and proud for the family. Vijay’s mother, Shoba Chandrashekhar, also shared her happiness ahead of the ceremony, calling it a moment of joy. The swearing-in is expected to draw national and regional political figures, film personalities, and a large gathering of Vijay’s supporters from across Tamil Nadu.
