Chennai, May 11: The Congress party is set to return to the Tamil Nadu government after more than 55 years, following the formation of the Tamilaga Vettai Katchi (TVK) government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
Under a power-sharing agreement after a hung assembly in the Tamil Nadu elections, the TVK has decided to allocate two ministerial positions to Congress.
The new government was sworn in during a grand ceremony at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, where Vijay took the oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Alongside him, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to nine ministers. The TVK party, contesting its first assembly elections, emerged as the largest party by winning 108 seats in the 234-member assembly.
However, the party fell short of the 118 seats needed for a majority, prompting Vijay to seek support from Congress and other like-minded parties to form the government.
Despite contesting 28 seats under the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), Congress secured only five seats. Nevertheless, the party’s central leadership decided to support the TVK after multiple discussions held in New Delhi by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).
The TVK government also enjoys support from CPI, CPI (M), IUML, and VCK, enabling Vijay to easily surpass the majority mark and claim the formation of the government.
Congress’s entry into the Tamil Nadu cabinet marks a significant political moment, as the party has been deprived of ministerial positions for decades, despite being a long-time ally of the DMK in various governments.
In 2006, when the DMK formed a government with external support from Congress and PMK, Congress won 34 seats but was not given representation in the state cabinet.
Girish Chodankar, the AICC’s national observer for Tamil Nadu, confirmed that discussions regarding Congress candidates are ongoing. He stated, “We are not insisting that Congress ministers take the oath immediately. Discussions are underway regarding which MLAs will be included in the cabinet. The final decision will be made by the leadership in Delhi.”
According to Congress sources, Melur MLA P. Vishwanathan and Killiur MLA S. Rajesh Kumar are among the leading contenders for ministerial positions.
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My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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