Bengaluru, May 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to C. Joseph Vijay on his swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He expressed hope for effective collaboration for the benefit of the public.
In a message on social media platform X, PM Modi wrote, “Congratulations to Thiru C. Joseph Vijay on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Best wishes for his upcoming term. The central government will continue to work with the Tamil Nadu government to improve the lives of the people.”
Vijay’s swearing-in marks a significant political shift in the state, ending a nearly six-decade tradition of alternating power between the DMK and AIADMK parties.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office at a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Alongside Vijay, nine other ministers also took their oaths as part of the new cabinet.
The event saw participation from various national and regional political leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, along with film personalities, party workers, and thousands of supporters. This necessitated stringent security measures around the venue.
Chennai police deployed heavy security forces around the stadium before the ceremony, conducted thorough vehicle checks, and implemented strict entry controls.
Vijay assumed office after the TVK-led coalition secured support from 120 legislators in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, easily surpassing the majority mark of 118 required to form the government.
Although the TVK emerged as the largest party in the recent assembly elections, it did not achieve an outright majority. This led to intense political negotiations in the days leading up to the swearing-in.
The uncertainty concluded on Saturday evening when the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) announced their support for Vijay’s coalition. Previously, Congress, CPI, and CPI(M) had also backed the TVK, enabling Vijay, a former actor turned politician, to claim the government formation.
Following the support, Vijay met with Governor Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday night and submitted letters of support from all five coalition partners (Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML). Subsequently, the Governor nominated Vijay as Chief Minister and invited him to form the cabinet. He also instructed the new Chief Minister to secure a vote of confidence in the assembly by May 13 or earlier.
Vijay’s swearing-in represents a historic turning point in Tamil Nadu politics, as it marks the first time since 1967 that a non-Dravidian party has come to power in the state. Political observers view this development as a significant change in the state’s political landscape, which has long been dominated by the DMK and AIADMK.
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