Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay has taken oath as the new Chief Minister of India’s Tamil Nadu state, ending nearly six decades of dominance by the DMK and AIADMK in state politics.
Vijay, president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was sworn in at a ceremony held at Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Sunday morning (May 10).
TVK won 108 seats in the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, falling short of the 118 seats needed to form the government. Over the past few days, Vijay held several rounds of talks with allies and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar to secure support.
According to reports, Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK and IUML extended support to the TVK-led alliance, helping Vijay reach the majority mark in the 234-member assembly. Vijay had contested from two seats and is expected to vacate one, leaving the alliance with support from 120 lawmakers.
This is the first time since 1967 that Tamil Nadu will be governed by a party outside the state’s two traditional Dravidian blocs.
Supporters gathered across Chennai to celebrate Vijay’s rise to power, calling it a “new chapter” in Tamil Nadu politics. Tight security arrangements were in place around the swearing-in venue.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also attended the ceremony. Congress was among the first parties to support TVK after the election results were announced.
Vijay is expected to announce his cabinet soon and must prove his majority in the state assembly by May 13.
The development marks a major political shift in Tamil Nadu, where Dravidian parties have dominated state politics for decades.
