Chennai (Commonwealth Union)_Tamil Nadu witnessed a historic political moment on Sunday as Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder and legislature party leader C. Joseph Vijay took the oath as the state’s new Chief Minister at a grand ceremony held at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Accordingly, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vijay and his council of ministers in front of thousands of supporters, political leaders, celebrities, and invited guests. The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, with loud cheers and whistles from TVK supporters filling the venue as Vijay arrived for the ceremony. The event began with the rendering of “Vande Mataram,” followed by the National Anthem and Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, making the occasion both emotional and symbolic. Many political observers noted that the event was one of the rare government ceremonies in Tamil Nadu where “Vande Mataram” was officially played.
Vijay took the oath in the name of God, and most members of his cabinet followed the same tradition, marking a visible shift from the previous DMK government’s style of swearing-in ceremonies. Alongside Vijay, nine ministers were sworn into office, including 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. The ceremony drew several well-known personalities from the film and political worlds. Vijay’s parents, filmmaker S.A. Chandrasekhar and Shobha Chandrasekhar, attended the event along with actor Trisha and many other guests. Supporters gathered in large numbers outside the stadium, celebrating what they described as the beginning of a new political era in Tamil Nadu.
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Vijay’s rise to power has been one of the biggest political developments in the state in recent decades. His party, TVK, won 108 out of 234 seats in the Assembly elections held last month. After days of intense discussions and negotiations with allies, Vijay secured the support needed to cross the majority mark. His alliance eventually reached the support of 120 MLAs, allowing him to form the government. Political analysts have described the victory as historic because it marks the first time in nearly six decades that Tamil Nadu will be governed by a party other than the DMK or AIADMK. Vijay, who entered politics after a highly successful film career, has now become the 17th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
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Soon after the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly spoke with Vijay over the phone and congratulated him on assuming office. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also extended his wishes, highlighting the strong cultural and historical ties between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. One of the most talked-about moments of the event was Vijay’s emotional speech. Addressing the crowd, he spoke about his humble upbringing and said he understood poverty and hardship personally. He recalled being the son of an assistant director who struggled in the film industry and said the people of Tamil Nadu had first accepted him as an actor before trusting him as a political leader. “I am one among your family,” Vijay said emotionally, thanking the public for their support. He added that entering politics was his way of repaying the love and trust people had shown him over the years.
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The new chief minister also spoke openly about the challenges facing the state. He claimed Tamil Nadu was burdened with debts exceeding ₹10 lakh crore and promised complete transparency in governance. Vijay announced that his government would soon release a white paper explaining the financial condition of the state. Furthermore, on his very first day in office, Vijay signed several important welfare and governance measures. One of the major announcements was the launch of “Singappen Athiradi Padai,” a special security unit dedicated to women’s safety across Tamil Nadu. He also approved a scheme offering 200 units of free electricity every two months to households, doubling the existing free power benefit.
Another major decision included setting up anti-drug prevention units in all districts to fight substance abuse among youngsters. Vijay said protecting the youth from narcotics would remain one of his government’s top priorities. Ending his speech on a hopeful note, Vijay promised clean governance and warned that corruption would not be tolerated, even within his own administration. Calling his government a new beginning, he said Tamil Nadu was entering a fresh era focused on secularism, social justice, transparency, and public welfare.
