Vijay Sworn In as Tamil Nadu CM: TVK Chief Takes Oath in Chennai, Rahul Gandhi Attends

Marking the beginning of a new political era in Tamil Nadu, TVK Chief C. Joseph Vijay has officially taken oath as the 9th Chief Minister of the state. In a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to him. Prominent Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also present on the stage during this historic occasion. With this, the Vijay-led TVK government has formally commenced its tenure in Tamil Nadu.

The Majority Equation and Legislative Support

Prior to the swearing-in ceremony, Vijay met Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Raj Bhavan on Saturday. During this meeting, he submitted a letter of support from 121 MLAs to form the government. While the requirement to prove a majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly was 118 MLAs, Vijay secured the support of 3 more than the required number.

After verifying the support letters, the Governor invited Vijay to form the government. The invitation triggered widespread celebrations among supporters and within Vijay's family, marking his transition from a silver screen hero to a real-life leader.

High-Voltage Political Drama and the Journey to CM Post

The path to the Chief Minister's office wasn't easy for Thalapathy Vijay. Following the election results on May 4, Tamil Nadu witnessed intense political drama until May 9. On May 6, Vijay met the Governor with the support of 5 Congress MLAs, but was turned back as he was 5 MLAs short of the majority mark. On May 7, he met the Governor for a second time with the support of 4 MLAs from Left parties, but the Governor again insisted on proof of support from 118 MLAs.

On May 8, Vijay's party, TVK, claimed support from the VCK. Vijay visited the Governor for the third consecutive day, but the matter remained unresolved as VCK didn't confirm its support until late that night. Finally, on May 9, both IUML and VCK extended their support to TVK, clearing the way for Vijay to become the Chief Minister.

Immediate Governance: Three Key Orders Signed

Immediately after assuming office, Chief Minister Vijay signed three significant orders related to public welfare, while he signed the first order to provide 200 units of free electricity to the citizens. On top of that, he signed orders to curb drug smuggling and to constitute a dedicated task force for women's safety, fulfilling key administrative priorities right at the start of his term.