Agencies | Chennai:
Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to take oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu today, bringing an end to days of political uncertainty following the Assembly election verdict. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has directed Vijay to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly on or before May 13.
Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, emerged as the single-largest party in the recently concluded elections with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly. The party later secured crucial support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League, taking the alliance tally to 120 seats — comfortably above the majority mark of 118.
The support extended by the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) further strengthened Vijay’s claim to form the government.
Soon after receiving letters of support from alliance partners, Vijay met Governor Arlekar at Lok Bhavan and formally staked claim to form the next government in the state.
The development marks a major political transition in Tamil Nadu, as it will be the first time in nearly seven decades that a government led by neither the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam nor the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam assumes power in the state.
Political observers view Vijay’s rise as a significant disruption in Tamil Nadu’s long-standing Dravidian political landscape, with expectations high over the new administration’s approach to governance, youth engagement, employment, and welfare policies.
