C. Joseph Vijay sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, ending nearly six decades of DMK and AIADMK dominance after TVK-led alliance secured majority support in the Assembly, marking a historic political transformation in the state’s leadership and electoral landscape.
A dramatic political transition unfolded in Tamil Nadu on Sunday as actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister, bringing an end to nearly six decades of alternating rule by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar during a grand ceremony held at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Alongside Vijay, nine ministers were also inducted into the new council of ministers, officially marking the beginning of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government in the state.
The swearing-in ceremony attracted a massive crowd, including national and regional political leaders, members of the film industry, party workers, and thousands of supporters. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was among the prominent political figures present at the event. The large public gathering prompted authorities to enforce extensive security measures across the venue and surrounding areas.
Chennai city police carried out strict vehicle checks, intensified surveillance operations, and imposed access restrictions near the stadium to ensure smooth conduct of the high-profile event. Authorities also arranged special seating for distinguished guests and family members of the new Chief Minister.
In one of the most discussed moments of the ceremony, seats in the front row were reserved for Vijay’s parents, veteran filmmaker S.A. Chandrasekhar and Shobha Chandrasekhar. Actor Trisha Krishnan and her mother were also seated in the same section, drawing widespread attention from fans and media personnel covering the event.
Vijay assumed office after the TVK-led alliance secured the backing of 120 legislators in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, comfortably crossing the majority requirement of 118 seats needed to form the government.
Although TVK emerged as the single largest party in the recently concluded Assembly elections, the party initially fell short of an outright majority. This triggered intense political discussions and alliance negotiations over the past several days, creating uncertainty regarding government formation in the state.
The political deadlock ended on Saturday evening after the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) extended formal support to the Vijay-led alliance. Earlier, the Congress, the Communist Party of India (CPI), and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) had also declared their support for the TVK.
Following the successful alliance negotiations, Vijay met Governor Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday night and submitted letters of support from all five allied parties. After reviewing the documents, the Governor appointed Vijay as Chief Minister-designate and invited him to form the new ministry.
The Governor has also directed the new government to prove its majority through a vote of confidence in the Assembly on or before May 13.
Political analysts have described Vijay’s rise to power as one of the most significant developments in Tamil Nadu’s modern political history. Since 1967, the state’s politics had been dominated almost entirely by the DMK and AIADMK, both rooted in the Dravidian movement. The emergence of TVK as the ruling force signals a major realignment in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.
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Observers believe Vijay’s popularity among youth voters, combined with anti-incumbency sentiment and strategic alliance-building, played a crucial role in the TVK’s electoral success. His transition from cinema icon to Chief Minister is now being viewed as a defining chapter in the evolving political history of southern India.
The coming weeks are expected to test the stability and governance approach of the newly formed administration as Tamil Nadu enters a new political era under Vijay’s leadership.
