Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet on Thursday at Lok Bhavan, inducting 23 MLAs into the Council of Ministers.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to Ministers Rajesh Kumar, P Vishwanathan, and 21 leaders from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). This expansion marked the first time in nearly six decades that Congress gained representation in the Tamil Nadu cabinet.
The total strength of the Council of Ministers now stands at 35, with 33 ministers sworn in so far. Vijay and nine MLAs had earlier taken oath on May 10 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Congress leaders hailed the move as a reflection of Tamil Nadu’s mandate for a secular, progressive coalition.
Congress leader Girish Chodankar said the people clearly voted for coalition governance. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K Selvaperunthagai highlighted the party’s 100 per cent strike rate in the state, winning all 40 seats, and welcomed the inclusion of two ministers. Senior leader Su. Thirunavukkarasar thanked Vijay and Rahul Gandhi for ensuring Congress representation.
TVK Minister Aadhav Arjuna described the cabinet as functioning like one family, ensuring representation for alliance partners. The coalition includes Congress, CPI(M), CPI, VCK, and IUML, all of whom supported TVK after the 2026 Assembly elections. Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s maiden electoral victory with 108 seats ended nearly 60 years of Dravidian dominance, reshaping Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
