“When we took this matter to the governor’s office, we were informed that the governor is required to act in accordance with the new circular issued by the Union government,” TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna said. Photo: YT/@TVKVijayHQ-Offl via PTI
Tamil Nadu Minister Aadhav Arjuna said on Sunday (May 10, 2026) that the new government will continue the tradition of releasing the Tamil Thai Vazhthu (invocation of the Tamil mother) and the national anthem at the beginning and end of official functions.
The minister’s announcement of X came first against the backdrop of a rendition of “Vande Mataram”, followed by the national anthem and then the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the swearing-in ceremony of the cabinet led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and presided over by Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. TVK’s ruling allies including CPI, CPI-M and VCK criticized it.
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Mr. Arjuna said that ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ has a proud history of more than a century. The Tamil Nadu government has declared it as the state song with the intention of spreading it around the world. At the beginning of government functions in Tamil Nadu, the national song is played first and the national anthem is played at the end. This was common and appropriate practice.
The new government led by TVK does not have a different opinion on this long-standing practice. In such a scenario, this new practice is not in accordance with the traditions of Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, rendering of Tamil Thai Vazhthu as the third song is unacceptable to the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government, he said.
“When we raised this issue with the governor’s office, we were informed that the governor is required to act in accordance with the new circular issued by the Union government. In such unavoidable circumstances, ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ was played as the third song. However, this new practice will not be followed in future and instead ‘Ant Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ will be played at the end of national functions and at the beginning of national functions. It was earlier,” he said.
The Tamil Thai congratulatory song that begins “Nirarum Kadaludutta…” has a century of historical pride. Continuing the ideal of ‘Ulakenkum Parava…’ the Tamil Nadu government has declared it as the national song. Such a proud Tamil girl….
— Aadhav Arjuna (@AadhavArjuna) May 10, 2026
Not only in Tamil Nadu but in all states across India, the appropriate national song should be played at the start of official functions and the Union Government must take appropriate steps in this regard. This is the collective sentiment and unanimous opinion of the people of Tamil Nadu, he added.
Published – 10 May 2026 22:59 IST
