Rickey Pandit Vettrive. Image: X/@pandit_radhan
The Government of Tamil Nadu has appointed Rickey Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister (Politics). The terms of his appointment are expected to be announced at a later date.
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In response to the appointment, the head of VCK Thol. Thirumavalavan said, “I have come to know that he is also a speaker. He may be an astrologer but I believe the appointment may have been made on the basis that he was a party speaker. It is one thing to believe in astrology and it is another thing to be inclined towards communal politics. Not all followers of astrology indulge in communal politics.”
CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam said it was unacceptable to appoint an astrologer as an officer in the service (politics) of the chief minister. “It is the duty of the government to develop scientific character. But Mr. Vettrivel is essentially an astrologer. Appointment to a government post with a government salary will only increase people’s faith in astrology,” Mr. Shanmugam said in a social media post.
Citing the works of national poet Subramania Bharati, who “despise astrology”, he added that it would be unacceptable for Mr Vettrivel to offer political advice.
Published – 12 May 2026 22:43 IST
