Vijay Sworn In; Appoints Key Personnel in Tamil Nadu CMO

Chennai (IANS): Hours after being sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President C. Joseph Vijay (popularly known as Thalapathy Vijay) initiated his first major administrative reshuffle. On Sunday, the actor-turned-politician formally assumed office at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, signalling a new political era by appointing top IAS officers to lead his Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

In a historic shift that has redrawn the political map of South India, actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. The ceremony, held at a packed Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, officially marks the end of nearly 60 years of alternating rule by the DMK and AIADMK.

Key Appointments in the CMO

In his first set of official orders, Chief Minister Vijay named two seasoned bureaucrats to assist in the state’s governance:

• Dr. P. Senthil Kumar (IAS): Previously the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department, he has been appointed as Principal Secretary to the CM (Special Secretary-1).
• G. Lakshmi Priya (IAS): Formerly the Secretary of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, she will now serve as Special Secretary-2 to the CM.

A third Special Secretary is expected to be named shortly to complete the traditional four-member core team that assists the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

A Historic Day at the Secretariat

The day was marked by high emotion and celebration. After a grand swearing-in ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium—attended by dignitaries including Rahul Gandhi—Vijay arrived at the Secretariat to a ceremonial guard of honour.

Witnesses noted that the new Chief Minister appeared visibly moved as he entered the chamber. Encouraged by senior minister K.A. Sengottaiyan, Vijay took his seat before signing three major files that defined his immediate priorities:

1. Free Electricity: Granting 200 units of free power for domestic consumers.
2. Women’s Safety: Establishing a dedicated special force for the protection of women.
3. Anti-Narcotics Drive: Setting up specialized units to combat drug trafficking across the state.

The End of a 60-Year Duopoly

Vijay’s ascent to power follows a stunning performance in the 2026 Assembly elections, where his fledgling party, TVK, emerged as the single largest party with 107 seats. By securing support from allies, including the Congress, VCK, and Left parties, Vijay reached the 118-seat majority mark, ending six decades of alternating rule between the DMK and AIADMK.

As the state transitions from the M.K. Stalin-led government, Vijay has pledged a “white paper” on the state’s finances and a focus on transparent, “power-centre-free” governance.

Building the Coalition

Vijay’s path to the Secretariat was paved by a series of intense post-poll negotiations. Although the TVK emerged as the single largest party, it fell short of the 118-seat majority mark on its own. The deadlock broke late Saturday when a coalition of allies solidified:

• The Supporters: The Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML all submitted letters of support, bringing the alliance’s total to 120 MLAs in the 234-member house.
• The Mandate: Governor Arlekar has directed the new Chief Minister to prove his majority via a vote of confidence on the floor of the Assembly on or before May 13.

A New Era for Tamil Nadu

Since 1967, Tamil Nadu’s political identity has been synonymous with the Dravidian movement. Vijay’s victory represents the first time in over half a century that a non-Dravidian party has captured power.

Political analysts view this as a “generational realignment,” driven by a youth-heavy electorate and a desire for a third alternative beyond the traditional DMK-AIADMK binary. As Vijay moves from the silver screen to the seat of power, all eyes are now on his first 100 days of governance and his promise of a “transparent, people-first” administration.