Actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay officially took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, marking a major political shift in the state’s history.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai amid massive public celebrations and strong political attention nationwide.
The oath ceremony ended days of uncertainty over government formation after Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), secured crucial support from Congress, Left parties, and smaller regional allies to cross the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly.
TVK Secures Majority with Alliance Support
TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections by winning 108 seats in its debut electoral contest. However, the party initially fell short of the 118-seat majority required to form the government.
The political deadlock ended after support arrived from the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and other smaller parties. The backing from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) proved decisive in helping Vijay stake claim to power.
The election results were announced on May 4, but discussions and negotiations continued for several days before the final numbers were secured.
Rahul Gandhi Attends Swearing-In Ceremony
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended the high-profile oath-taking event alongside several political leaders, celebrities, and thousands of TVK supporters gathered outside the venue.
Tamil Nadu’s acting Governor Rajendra Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vijay and the newly inducted ministers.
Nine TVK MLAs Take Oath Alongside Vijay
Nine newly elected TVK legislators were also sworn in as ministers in the new cabinet. They include:
- Aadhav Arjuna
- KA Sengottaiyan
- N Anand
- Dr KG Arunraj
- P Venkataramanan
- R Nirmalkumar
- Rajmohan
- Dr T Prabhu
- S Keerthana
Historic Shift in Tamil Nadu Politics
Vijay’s rise marks the first time since 1967 that a leader outside the traditional DMK and AIADMK political formations has become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Founded just two years ago, TVK positioned itself as an alternative to the state’s long-dominant Dravidian parties. During his campaign, Vijay cited leaders such as Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, C. N. Annadurai, K. Kamaraj, and B. R. Ambedkar as inspirations for TVK’s vision of social justice and governance.
While acknowledging Periyar as an ideological influence, Vijay clarified that his party would not adopt atheism as a political doctrine.
A New Political Era Begins
Political analysts believe Vijay’s victory signals a transformational phase in Tamil Nadu politics, where cinema influence, youth mobilisation, and anti-establishment sentiment combined to create a powerful electoral wave.
The coming months will now test whether TVK can successfully transition from a debut political force into a stable governing administration in one of India’s most politically influential states.
