GUWAHATI: Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, April 10, marking a historic shift in the State’s political landscape and ending nearly six decades of alternating rule by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
The DMK first came to power in 1967 under former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai, beginning an era of Dravidian dominance in Tamil Nadu politics that continued through successive governments led by the DMK and AIADMK.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Vijay at around 10 a.m. at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Nine other Ministers, including senior TVK leaders, were also sworn in as members of the new coalition government.
Vijay was invited to form the government on Saturday after the TVK, which emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections, secured the support of 120 MLAs in the 234-member House. He later met the Governor at Raj Bhavan and submitted letters of support from alliance partners, including the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League.
The formation of the TVK-led government follows days of intense political negotiations and uncertainty after the fractured electoral verdict left no single party with a clear majority.
Reports suggested that the VCK had sought the Deputy Chief Minister’s post and key Cabinet portfolios during discussions with the TVK leadership. However, no such conditions were officially mentioned in the letters of support submitted to the Governor.
Meanwhile, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, which won one seat, extended support to the AIADMK and urged the Governor to invite AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami to form the government.
The Governor’s insistence on documentary proof of majority support triggered criticism from TVK leaders and allies, leading to protests by party supporters outside Raj Bhavan and demonstrations by Congress workers in Madurai.
The political arithmetic shifted decisively in favour of the TVK after the VCK and IUML extended support on Saturday evening, taking the alliance tally to 120 MLAs. Support from the CPI and CPI(M), which contributed two MLAs each, along with Congress’s five seats, proved crucial in helping the TVK cross the majority mark.
CPI State Secretary R. Mutharasan described the support as a “democratic duty” to back the single largest party.
CPI(M) General Secretary M. A. Baby said the Left parties intervened to prevent “opportunistic alliances masterminded by communal forces,” adding that consultations were held with outgoing Chief Minister M. K. Stalin before extending support.
Since Vijay had contested and won from two constituencies, one Assembly seat will fall vacant after he resigns from one of them, necessitating a by-election at a later stage.
Governor Arlekar has directed Vijay to seek a vote of confidence in the Assembly on or before May 13.
Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi attended the swearing-in ceremony in Chennai, underlining the Congress party’s support for the new coalition government.