Vijay Takes Oath as Tamil Nadu CM: Signs 200 Units Free Power as First File

Actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday morning, marking a historic political shift in the state. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief took the oath in Tamil at a ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.

A brief interruption during oath

As Vijay began reciting the oath, he added a few extra words beyond the prescribed text. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar intervened briefly, asking him to read only what was written. The CM-designate nodded and continued without further interruption.

Rahul Gandhi shared the stage with Vijay during the ceremony. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha arrived in Chennai around 8:40 am and departed after the event.

Nine ministers take oath

Alongside Vijay, nine other MLAs from TVK took oath as ministers. The cabinet includes N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, Dr KG Arunraj, KA Sengottaiyan, P Venkataramanan, R Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan, Dr TK Prabhu, and Selvi S Keerthana. No MLA from any alliance partner found a place in the first cabinet.

First files signed

Soon after assuming office, Vijay signed his first set of official documents. The orders included 200 units of free electricity for households, formation of a special task force for women's safety, and an anti-drugs squad. The actor-turned-CM received a guard of honour at the secretariat shortly after.

The road to the chair

Vijay met Governor Arlekar for the fourth time on Saturday, submitting letters of support from MLAs of TVK, Congress, CPI, CPM, VCK and IUML. The Governor then invited him to form government. TVK, formed just two years ago, won 108 out of 234 seats in its first assembly election. This is the first time since 1967 that a non-Dravidian party has come to power in Tamil Nadu.

Celebrations and congratulations

TVK supporters burst firecrackers and distributed sweets outside Vijay's parents' residence and across several districts. Actor Trisha Krishnan attended the ceremony, while Kamal Haasan, MK Stalin, Naveen Patnaik, and PM Modi extended congratulations.

PM Modi Arrives in Kolkata as Suvendu Adhikari Set to Take Oath as Bengal CM Today

Thousands gather at Brigade Parade Ground for historic swearing-in ceremony; 20 NDA chief ministers to attend

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at the RCTC Ground in Kolkata just before 10 am on Saturday, marking the start of a high-stakes day that will see Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal's first BJP chief minister. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for 11 am at the historic Brigade Parade Ground.

Adhikari, dressed in a saffron kurta for the occasion, arrived at the airport to receive the Prime Minister. The gesture carried political weight, signalling the close coordination between the BJP's central leadership and its newest state government.

Historic Transition of Power

The legislative party meeting held Friday at a Convention Centre in Kolkata formally elected Adhikari as their leader. Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced the decision shortly after. Adhikari then met the Governor at Lok Bhavan to stake claim for forming the government.

For the BJP, this represents a breakthrough in a state it had never governed before. The party's performance in last month's assembly elections reshaped West Bengal's political map.

Massive Gathering Expected

Authorities expect over one lakh people to assemble at the Brigade Parade Ground. Four thousand security personnel have been deployed across the venue. Barricades are being installed to manage the crowd, and waterproof tents have been set up as a precaution against unpredictable late-morning weather.

The pandal features a Bengal theme with approximately 20 varieties of flowers used for decoration. A large floral rangoli has been arranged before the main stage. The vehicle meant to carry Adhikari and PM Modi to the podium has also been specially decorated.

NDA Leaders Flock to Kolkata

Chief ministers from 20 NDA and BJP-ruled states have arrived to attend the ceremony. Among those confirmed present are Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary, and Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and BJP president JP Nadda have also reached the venue. Gadkari landed earlier this morning, while Nadda left his hotel shortly before 9.30 am.

Ground-Level Preparations

Beyond the political spectacle, organisers have arranged stalls selling local favourites like jhalmuri and rasgulla. The VIP lunch menu includes aloo dum, black lentils, pulao, mixed vegetables, masala kulcha, baingan bhaja saag, aloo poshto, and gulab jamun for dessert.

A memorial has been erected at the ground for BJP workers killed in political violence in West Bengal over recent years. Party leaders have framed the swearing-in as a tribute to those deaths.

What Comes Next

BJP's Dilip Jaiswal told reporters earlier that the new government would work to fulfil the vision of a "new Bengal". Party leader Sankar Ghosh described the moment as time to meet the aspirations of the state's people.

Adhikari himself called the BJP's Bengal victory a "historic dawn" in a statement released Friday evening. Once sworn in, his immediate challenges will include cabinet formation and administrative transition in a state where the BJP previously had no governing experience.

The ceremony is expected to conclude by early afternoon.