Chennai, May 11: Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay took the oath as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday and promptly formed a nine-member cabinet.
The inaugural cabinet of the Tamilga Vetrikazhagam (TVK) government includes seasoned politicians, former bureaucrats, professionals, political strategists, and first-time elected representatives.
Among the prominent figures in the cabinet is veteran leader K.A. Sengottaiyan, whose five-decade-long political career makes him one of the most experienced ministers in the new government.
Sengottaiyan, a ten-time legislator, began his political journey in the 1970s and first entered the assembly in 1977 during the rise of M.G. Ramachandran’s AIADMK government. He later became a close associate of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, overseeing several key departments, including Revenue and School Education. After being expelled from the AIADMK in 2025 due to differences with the party’s general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Sengottaiyan joined Vijay’s TVK.
N. Anand has also been included in the cabinet and is considered one of Vijay’s closest political allies. Anand played a crucial role in building the party’s grassroots structure and election campaign machinery across Tamil Nadu. He is well-known for several social initiatives in his constituency.
Another significant figure in the ministry is A. Arjun, regarded as one of TVK’s chief strategists and prominent faces. A former basketball player and president of the Basketball Federation of India, Arjun previously served briefly in the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). He is recognized for his role in expanding TVK’s organizational and electoral network throughout Tamil Nadu.
One of the most talked-about members of the cabinet is 29-year-old S. Keerthana, who is the first woman legislator elected from Sivakasi. A former political advisor and digital campaign strategist, Keerthana has previously worked with election teams associated with leaders like M.K. Stalin, Mamata Banerjee, and N. Chandrababu Naidu.
K.G. Arunraj, a former IRS officer and doctor, also joined the cabinet after resigning from government service to enter politics under Vijay’s leadership. Arunraj won by a significant margin from Tiruchengode while serving as TVK’s policy and publicity general secretary.
R. Nirmal Kumar, who oversees TVK’s IT and social media operations, was honored with a ministerial position for his crucial role in enhancing the party’s digital reach and negotiating with leftist parties post-election.
A. Rajmohan, an actor, comedian, television anchor, and director who served as TVK’s publicity secretary, was appointed minister after winning from the Egmore constituency.
Senior advocate and TVK treasurer P. Venkataramanan also took the oath as a minister. Additionally, K.T. Prabhu, a dentist turned politician, secured a place in the cabinet.
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