Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, marking a dramatic political shift in the state and the formal rise of his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), to power.
Amid heavy security, the swearing-in ceremony took place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, which was packed with massive crowds of supporters from across the state.
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the Governor of Tamil Nadu, administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vijay and members of his cabinet.
Several senior leaders from alliance parties, film personalities, and national political figures attended the ceremony, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Gandhi’s appearance alongside Vijay also became part of a separate political controversy after the Congress alleged that Instagram had temporarily blocked a reel and photo post featuring the two leaders, claiming the restriction was linked to MeitY rules.
However, government sources later denied any involvement, stating that the posts were mistakenly flagged by Instagram’s internal systems and were subsequently restored.
In his first address as Chief Minister, Vijay told the crowd that his journey from cinema to politics was driven by a responsibility to serve ordinary people.
“My people, I am not an angel. I am a common man like all of you,” he said, adding that he understood everyday struggles and promising to lead with humility and accessibility.
Vijay emphasised that his government would focus on education, employment, and social welfare while urging unity across political lines for the development of Tamil Nadu. The speech was met with loud cheers from supporters, many of whom described the moment as historic and symbolic of a generational political shift.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay shortly after the oath-taking ceremony and assured cooperation between the Centre and the new Tamil Nadu government.
In a message posted on X, Modi said, “Congratulations to Thiru C. Joseph Vijay on taking oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. Best wishes for his tenure ahead. The Central Government will continue working with the Tamil Nadu Government to improve the lives of the people.”
Reports also stated that the Prime Minister personally spoke to Vijay over the phone following the ceremony.
TVK’s victory in the 2026 Assembly election is being viewed as the biggest political upheaval in Tamil Nadu in decades, effectively breaking the long-standing dravidian duopoly of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in state politics.
Although TVK fell short of securing a full majority on its own, Vijay obtained support from parties including the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML to stake a claim to form the government.
Soon after assuming office, Vijay signed a series of key files, including measures promising 200 units of free electricity for households, the creation of an anti-narcotics task force, and new initiatives aimed at women’s safety.
Drones of Vijay’s fans celebrated across Chennai and several districts with fireworks, sweets, temple prayers, and public screenings of the ceremony, reflecting the emotional connection he continues to share with his fan base and political supporters alike.
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7 May 2026 18:57
