“Vijay Takes Oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister — A Historic Turning Point”
Chennai, May 10, 2026
Tamil Nadu has a new Chief Minister — and his name was once synonymous with blockbuster films. TVK founder C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister at Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai at 10 AM on May 10, 2026. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the Oath of Office and Secrecy to him. Vijay walked onto the stage dressed in a black blazer, and the moment he uttered the words “I, C. Joseph Vijay…”, the entire arena erupted in applause and cheers. It was a moment millions of his supporters had worked toward since he founded his party just two years ago.
A Cabinet of New Faces
Along with Vijay, nine ministers were also sworn in. Among those who took oath as Cabinet Ministers were KG Arunraj, Aadhav Arjuna, N Anand, Selvi S Keerthana, and Dr TK Prabhu. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and several prominent personalities from the Tamil film industry were present at the swearing-in ceremony.
The Road to Power Was Not Smooth
The days between the election results and the oath-taking were filled with political tension. The uncertainty that had prevailed for several days finally ended when VCK and IUML confirmed their support to the TVK coalition. Vijay then met the Governor at Lok Bhavan, submitted letters of support from alliance parties, and formally staked his claim to form the government.
TVK, which emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, achieved the required majority mark of 118 in the 234-member House by securing backing from Congress, Left parties, VCK, and the Indian Union Muslim League, bringing its total support to 120 MLAs.
Why This is Historic
Vijay has made history as the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu since 1967 who does not come from either the DMK or the AIADMK — ending nearly six decades of Dravidian party dominance in the state.
He is also the first film actor to reach the top executive position in Tamil Nadu since M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). Analysts have drawn comparisons with the legendary actor-turned-Chief Ministers MGR and J. Jayalalithaa, noting that Vijay’s rise mirrors their blend of mass appeal and political ambition.
TVK pulled the vote banks of both the DMK and the AIADMK, attracting youth, women, urban, and first-time voters irrespective of caste or religious affiliations. Analysts attributed Vijay’s appeal more to a promise of change than to any meticulous ideology.
What Comes Next
Vijay’s new government, built on election promises of corruption-free governance, welfare schemes, job creation, education, and the protection of Tamil pride, must prove its majority on the floor of the Assembly by May 13. All eyes are now on that confidence vote — and on whether Tamil Nadu’s most cinematic political story will translate into durable governance.