Chennai: Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, ushering in a new political chapter in the state. The oath-taking ceremony was held at Chennai’s Nehru Stadium, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath administered the oath of office and secrecy.
The event drew large crowds of enthusiastic TVK supporters, whose loud cheers and whistles echoed through the venue as Vijay formally assumed office. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was among the prominent leaders present at the ceremony, underlining the significance of the occasion.
Vijay took the oath in the name of God, a notable departure from the style adopted by many leaders of the previous DMK administration. Members of his newly formed Cabinet also followed the same practice while taking their oath.
Several key TVK leaders, including Aadhav Arjuna, N. Anand and K.A. Sengottaiyan, were inducted as ministers. The Cabinet also includes S. Keerthana, the only woman minister in the nine-member team approved by the Governor.
The formation of the TVK government is being viewed as a watershed moment in Tamil Nadu politics, as it ends decades of political dominance by the DMK and AIADMK. It is the first time a party outside the traditional Dravidian framework has taken charge of the state government.
The Governor had officially invited Vijay to form the government after he secured the backing of 120 newly elected MLAs in the 234-member Assembly, enough to claim a majority.
The new Chief Minister is expected to face a floor test in the Assembly before May 13 to formally establish his majority.
Political observers see Vijay’s rise as a dramatic transformation from cinema icon to state leader, with his electoral victory signaling a major shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
