After a week of political drama and a struggle to cross the majority line, C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, May 10.
Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which fell short of the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly by ten seats, boosted support for smaller parties after the May 4 election results were announced.
After receiving support from Congress, VCK and Left parties, TVK crossed the majority mark of 118 that Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar was seeking to form the government in the southern state.
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Chief Minister Vijay signed five orders including 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers, setting up a special task force called ‘Singapen’ for women’s safety, setting up anti-drug squads, publishing a white paper on the previous DMK government’s finances and ensuring an open and transparent government.
TVK secured support from smaller parties like Congress, VCK and Left parties after emerging as the single largest party but fell short of the majority mark. This support helped them overcome the necessary 118 seats in the 234-member assembly.
Vijay’s cabinet consists of nine TVK MLAs: N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, KA Sengottaiyan, KG Arunraj, P Venkataramanan, R Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan, TK Prabhu and S Keerthana, who is the youngest and only minister.
Vijay is the first leader outside the DMK and AIADMK formations to head the Tamil Nadu government since 1967. His TVK party, formed two years ago, positions itself as an alternative to traditional Dravidian parties.
Vijay said the previous DMK government had left the state with debts of over ₹ 10 lakh crore and emptied the state treasury. He promised not to use “people’s money” and focus on improving basic services.
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After taking the oath, in the presence of his party’s alliance leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Vijay assured of a “transparent government” that would work to improve social justice.
“It is a victory for the people. A victory for the women and youth of Tamil Nadu. Our leader and all ministers will give a transparent government that will work for all minority brothers and sisters. We will work for development, especially social justice and secularism. We will definitely change the state. We will start a new history,” the 51-year-old was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
First order of business
Soon after Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister, Vijay signed new orders in line with the promises he had made during his election campaign. Here are five major announcements that Vijay made:
- 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers;
- Establishment of a special task force called ‘Singapen’ on women’s safety;
- anti-drug units across the state;
- Publish a “white paper” on the finances of the previous MK Stalin-led Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government.
- Have an open and transparent government
“Today I have seen firsthand the state our Tamil Nadu government is left in. The last government left after borrowing more than ₹10 million million crowns; the treasury was completely emptied before they left office,” said Vijay, pointing to the national debt of ₹10 lakh crore and accused the DMK government of emptying the exchequer.
Read also | Vijay’s key promises to Tamil Nadu: 8 gm gold, 6 LPG cylinders, AI city
He further pledged not to use “people’s money”, stressing that his primary focus would be on improving education, roads, drinking water facilities and other basic services.
Vijay’s cabinet
Meanwhile, today Governor Arlekar along with Vijay administered oath to nine ministers – all of whom were TVK MLAs.
They include N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, KA Sengottaiyan, KG Arunraj, P Venkataramanan, R Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan, TK Prabhu and S Keerthana – the lone minister in Vijay’s cabinet so far, who is also the youngest.
Although the TVK emerged as the largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election results – winning 108 seats – it fell short of a majority. After hectic negotiations to shore up the numbers, the TVK received support from the Congress, which won 5 seats, along with the Communist Party of India (2), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (2), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (2) and the Muslim League of India (2). However, no one from these parties has been appointed to the cabinet yet.
Popularly referred to as ‘Thalapati’, Vijay became the first leader outside the DMK and AIADMK formations to head the Tamil Nadu government since 1967.
In the 2026 elections, he won two seats, Perambur and Trichy East, and is likely to step down from the latter.
Read also | Meet the Tamil Nadu MLA who is 9 times richer than Vijay.
