Chennai: Actor-turned politician, TVK chief and its Legislature Party Leader C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Sunday.
The ceremony marks a huge political turning point for Tamil Nadu, breaking the 50-year grip of the state’s two dominant forces—Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Amid continuous “whistling” by TVK cadres and in the presence of top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Vijay took oath as the Chief Minister in the name of God and the ministers too took the oath in the name of God unlike most in the outgoing DMK regime.
Following a nail-biting election cycle where TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, Vijay successfully consolidated a coalition of 120 MLAs, including support from the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), and IUML.
Along with Vijay, senior leaders K A Sengottaiyan, Aadhav Arjuna, N Anand, K G Arunraj, C T R Nirmal Kumar , A Rajmohan, P Venkataraman, T K Prabhu, and S Keerthana were sworn in as ministers.
In his maiden address, Vijay called his administration “a new beginning” and said it would be committed to “real secularism and social justice.”
Soon after taking office, Vijay signed his first orders approving 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers, the creation of a special force for women’s safety and the establishment of anti-drug trafficking units across the state.
Vijay thanked the Congress, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Indian Union Muslim League and Left parties for supporting TVK in forming the government.
