Induction of IUML, VCK in Vijay led government is historic: Aadhav Arjuna

Aadhav Arjuna | Photo credit: th-online admin

Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna on Friday said the induction of MLAs from IUML and VCK in Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s cabinet was a historic event.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat in Chennai, Mr Arjuna said the Chief Minister formed the Cabinet on the principles of secular social justice, in line with the vision of leaders like Periyar EV Ramasamy, BR Ambedkar and CN Annadurai.

He said that the people of Tamil Nadu, crossing caste and religious lines, had created history by rejecting money, power, caste and religious politics.

According to Mr. Vijay’s power-sharing promise at the first TVK state conference in Vikravandi, the present Tamil Nadu cabinet serves as the best example of inclusive governance that the whole of India would admire, Mr. Arjuna said.

Those from humble backgrounds who worked for the party were given representation irrespective of caste, he added.

According to him, previous governments never really shared power with Muslims and Christians, assigning them powerless wards. “The opposition parties are falsely campaigning that a minister from a certain caste has been appointed to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department. We don’t even know the caste of Mr. Ramesh (HR & CE Minister). As far as TVK is concerned, we have never approached elections based on caste identity,” he said.

He also strongly condemned DMK president and former Union minister A. Raji’s remarks about the entry of IUML and VCK into the cabinet.

Published – 22 May 2026 22:43 IST