Ending days of uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu, C. Joseph Vijay — actor-turned-politician and president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) — is set to take oath as the state’s new chief minister at a grand ceremony in Chennai on Sunday.
The swearing-in, scheduled for 10 am at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, is expected to witness the presence of Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The Congress, which has five MLAs in the Assembly, was the first party to extend support to TVK after it emerged with 108 seats — 10 short of the majority mark.
Authorities have put elaborate security arrangements in place at the venue and across the city ahead of the high-profile event.
The path to government formation became clear after TVK secured support from Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). The CPI and the CPI(M) have also extended support to Vijay’s party.
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Vijay met Governor Rajendra Arlekar for the fourth time on Saturday evening and submitted letters of support from the backing parties. Following the meeting, the governor formally invited the TVK chief to form the government and asked him to prove his majority in the Assembly before May 13.
Once sworn in, Vijay will become the first leader outside the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) formations to head the Tamil Nadu government since 1967.
A hugely popular figure in Kollywood and a mass crowd-puller, Vijay launched TVK in 2024, positioning it as an alternative to the state's traditional Dravidian politics.
Celebrations erupted at the TVK headquarters soon after the governor’s invitation, with party workers bursting firecrackers, distributing sweets and gathering in large numbers to mark the occasion.
With the support of VCK and IUML, the numbers backing TVK have now risen to 120 — just above the simple majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.