New Delhi: Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, capping a dramatic post-poll saga in which his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) stitched together a wafer-thin majority to end nearly six decades of Dravidian party dominance in the state.
Vijay, popularly known as Thalapathy Vijay, took the oath of office and secrecy administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. Nine other TVK leaders were also inducted into the cabinet, forming a coalition government that crossed the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member assembly with support from parties including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
TVK had emerged as the single-largest party in the assembly elections with 108 seats but fell short of a simple majority. The days that followed saw intense backroom negotiations as the party worked to secure the additional numbers required to form the government. Vijay personally met the Governor multiple times, submitting letters of support that eventually took his coalition strength to 120 MLAs.
In his first address to supporters after the swearing-in, Vijay described the moment as the start of a new chapter. “This is a new beginning… A new era of real secularism and social justice starts now,” he said, according to reports of the speech. He pledged a government focused on people-centric governance, transparency, and welfare, adding emotionally, “I am just an ordinary man… I am amongst you.”
The new Chief Minister later chaired his first meeting at the state Secretariat, reviewing the law and order situation with senior bureaucrats and police officials. He also resigned from the Tiruchirappalli East seat — one of two he won — choosing to retain Perambur.
Vijay extended gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his congratulations. In a post on X, he added that his government’s “sole objective” would be the welfare and progress of the people of Tamil Nadu and looked forward to support from the Centre.
The swearing-in ceremony drew large crowds of emotional supporters, many of whom had followed Vijay from his cinema stardom into politics. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was among those present, later sharing a widely noted moment with the new CM. Rahul Gandhi described the development as “A new generation. A new voice. A new imagination.”
TVK’s stunning debut performance disrupted the long-standing bipolar politics of the DMK and AIADMK. The party’s campaign, built around anti-corruption, social justice, and youth appeal, resonated strongly, particularly among newer voters. Vijay himself had campaigned sparingly compared to rivals, relying on his massive popularity and a simple message centred on delivering on public expectations.
Political observers noted the tightrope walk required to manage coalition numbers. Support from smaller parties and independents proved decisive after initial claims and counter-claims by other fronts. The coalition’s 120 MLAs provide a slim but workable majority for the new administration as it prepares for the first session of the assembly beginning Monday.
Immediately after assuming office, the government signalled welfare priorities, with announcements including free electricity for 200 units and measures for women’s safety. Ministers spoke of conducting full audits of departments and releasing white papers on governance status.
Vijay’s rise marks the first time since 1967 that Tamil Nadu has a Chief Minister from outside the DMK-AIADMK ecosystem. Supporters celebrated the development as historic, while the new CM sought to strike a note of humility and determination.
“I promise the people of Tamil Nadu that I will never misuse even a single rupee of public money,” he had stated earlier in the context of his commitments. “I have not entered politics for wealth… I will never allow corruption.”
As Vijay settles into his new role at Fort St. George, all eyes will be on whether the coalition can deliver the “new era” he has promised amid the challenges of governing a diverse and politically vibrant state. The assembly’s first session and speaker election in the coming days will provide the initial test of the new government’s stability.
