(From Left) Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Governor of Tamil Nadu with C. Joseph Vijay, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Tamil Nadu Government, in Chennai.
| Photo Credit:
BIJOY GHOSH
Actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay, President of the two-year-old Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, on Sunday took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, promising a government rooted in social justice, transparency, women’s safety and eradication of the drug menace.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy to Vijay at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Sunday morning.
After Vijay, nine ministers — N. Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, K.A. Sengottayan, K.G. Arunraj, P. Venkataramanan, R. Nirmal Kumar, Raj Mohan, T.K. Prabhu and lone woman minister S. Keerthana — were sworn in as members of the cabinet.
Vijay and his Council of Ministers took the oath in the name of God in a ceremony that lasted less than 90 minutes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay on taking oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. “Best wishes for his tenure ahead. The Central Government will keep working with the Tamil Nadu Government to improve the lives of people.,” he said.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi flew to Chennai for the ceremony. The sound of whistles — the symbol of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam — reverberated throughout the stadium as Vijay entered the venue.
First signature
Soon after assuming office, Vijay announced key decisions including 200 units of free electricity every two months for domestic consumers who use less than 500 units of power supply overall, creation of a women’s protection force, and anti-drug squads in every district.
C. Joseph Vijay, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the swearing -in ceremony of the new Government.
| Photo Credit: BIJOY GHOSH
Breaking from convention, Vijay also delivered a brief, film-style speech from the swearing-in stage. “I am one among you. I was born to a poor Assistant Director, and you the people made me the Chief Minister. I am speechless,” he said.
Highlighting the State’s financial situation, Vijay said the new government was taking charge amid a debt burden of nearly ₹10 lakh crore and announced that a white paper on State finances would be released. “I will not spend public money,” he said, while appealing to people to give his government time to fulfil electoral promises.
He also acknowledged the involvment ‘virtual warriors’ of TVK this elections, and thanked their social media efforts for the victory.
Ending his address, Vijay declared: “It’s a new beginning. A new era of real, secular, social justice starts now.” He also thanked Gen Z supporters and children who affectionately call him “Vijay Mama”.
Interestingly, the programme both began and concluded with Vande Mataram, followed by the National Anthem and Tamizh Thaai Vazhthu. This seems to have been in line with a recent Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) order mandating that the song be played at government/public functions.
Responding to Vijay’s remarks on the State’s finances, former Chief Minister MK Stalin said in a post on X that the aid the State’s debt remained within permissible limits and accused Vijay of attempting to divert attention after making extensive poll promises despite knowing the financial position outlined in the February Budget.
மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு முதலமைச்சராகப் பொறுப்பேற்றுள்ள தமிழக வெற்றிக் கழகத் தலைவர் திரு. @ActorVijay அவர்களுக்கு எனது மனப்பூர்வமான வாழ்த்துகளைத் தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
பதவியேற்றதும் தாங்கள் கையெழுத்திட்டுள்ள அறிவிப்புகளையும் வரவேற்கிறேன்.
எடுத்த எடுப்பிலேயே அரசிடம் பணம் இல்லை…
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) May 10, 2026
“You, who came to power saying, I will only give promises that are practically feasible,” are now just stepping into government administration. I believe that, just like us, you too will surely learn soon the nuances of how to fulfill the promises made to the people. Along with the people who voted for you, I too expect the same,” Stalin wrote.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Vijay proceeded directly to the Secretariat, received a Guard of Honour, and also entered the Chief Minister’s chamber. .
Soon after, in the first bureaucrat reshuffle of the new government, P Senthilkumar, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Health and Family Welfare Department, was posted as Additional Chief Secretary/ Secretary-I to Chief Minister.
G Laxmi Priya, Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department is transferred and posted as Secretary-II to Chief Minister, says a Government order.
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Published on May 10, 2026
