In a dramatic and historic shift in South Indian politics, actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday morning, marking the end of nearly six decades of dominance by the state’s traditional Dravidian parties. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the packed Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai at 10 AM, where thousands of supporters gathered to witness what many are calling a turning point in the state’s political history.
The oath of office was administered by Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Along with Vijay, nine ministers from his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), were also sworn in. The new cabinet includes leaders Bussy N. Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, K.A. Sengottaiyan, K.G. Arunraaj, P. Venkataramanan, C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar, A. Rajmohan, K.T. Prabhu and S. Keerthana, who is the only woman minister in the first batch of the cabinet.
The atmosphere inside the stadium reflected both political excitement and celebration. Party workers waved TVK flags, supporters chanted slogans, and several well-known personalities from politics and cinema attended the ceremony. Among the prominent attendees was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who arrived in Chennai earlier in the morning to witness the oath-taking ceremony.
Vijay’s rise to the top political office in Tamil Nadu has been nothing short of remarkable. Known for decades as one of the most popular stars of Tamil cinema, he launched the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam only recently but quickly managed to convert his massive fan following into political momentum. In the recent assembly elections, TVK delivered a stunning debut performance by winning 108 seats in the 234-member assembly, breaking the long-standing dominance of the two major Dravidian parties — Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Although TVK emerged as the single largest party, it still required additional support to cross the majority mark. Vijay successfully built a coalition with several parties including the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League. Together, the alliance commands the support of 120 MLAs, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 118.
The final numbers came together only after days of political negotiations and uncertainty. At one point, the coalition was stuck just short of the required number until the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League extended their support, allowing Vijay to stake claim to form the government. After submitting letters of support from all alliance partners at Raj Bhavan in Chennai, Vijay was formally invited by the Governor to take oath as Chief Minister.
Soon after assuming office, Vijay moved quickly to signal his government’s priorities. One of the first files he signed approved 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers across the state, a move that is expected to bring financial relief to millions of households. He also cleared a proposal to create a special force dedicated to improving women’s safety, reflecting a focus on law enforcement and social welfare early in his administration.
The new government will soon face its first major test when it seeks to prove its majority in the state assembly. Governor Arlekar has directed the Chief Minister to secure a vote of confidence on or before May 13, giving the coalition a narrow window to demonstrate stability in the legislature.
For Tamil Nadu, Vijay’s swearing-in represents more than just a change of leadership. For nearly 60 years, politics in the state revolved around the rivalry between the DMK and the AIADMK. The emergence of TVK and Vijay’s victory have broken that long-standing political pattern, opening a new chapter in the state’s political history. Supporters see it as a fresh start driven by a leader with mass appeal, while political observers are closely watching how the new coalition government performs in the days ahead.