Vijay Expands Tamil Nadu Cabinet; Oath Ceremony Sees Protocol Row

The Tamil Nadu Cabinet expansion led by actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay saw 23 ministers sworn in on Thursday, but the ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Chennai was overshadowed by slogan-shouting, interruptions by Governor RN Ravi, and a fresh debate over official protocol.

The development also marked the Congress party’s return to the Tamil Nadu government after nearly six decades, following its alliance with Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

23 Ministers Sworn In

A total of 23 MLAs took oath as ministers in the Vijay-led government during the ceremony held in Chennai on Thursday morning. Among those inducted were two legislators from the Congress party, which has extended support to the TVK coalition after the recent Assembly elections.

The cabinet expansion comes days after Vijay formally assumed office as Chief Minister following the TVK’s strong electoral performance in the state polls, where the party secured 108 seats.

Political observers see the expansion as an attempt to balance regional representation, caste equations and alliance commitments within the new government.

Congress MLA Raises Slogans

The ceremony briefly turned tense after Congress Legislature Party leader S. Rajesh Kumar raised political slogans immediately after taking oath.

According to officials present at the venue, the MLA shouted “Kamaraj Amar Rahe,” “Rajiv Gandhi Amar Rahe,” and “Rahul Gandhi Zindabad” from the stage before proceeding to sign official documents.

Governor RN Ravi reportedly intervened and reminded the legislator that slogan-shouting was not part of the constitutional oath-taking process. The proceedings resumed shortly afterwards.

The moment quickly drew attention on social media, with clips from the ceremony circulating widely through the day.

Governor Interrupts Vijay

Chief Minister Joseph Vijay also faced a brief interruption while taking oath earlier in the ceremony.

Sources familiar with the proceedings said Vijay appeared to deviate from the officially prescribed oath text while addressing the gathering. Governor Ravi then asked him to adhere strictly to the approved format before allowing him to continue.

While the interruption lasted only a few moments, it added to the politically charged atmosphere at the swearing-in event.

Anthem Sequence Sparks Debate

Another controversy emerged over the sequence in which the Tamil state anthem, ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’, was played during the function.

Traditionally, the song is rendered at the beginning of official state events, followed by the national anthem at the conclusion. However, during Thursday’s ceremony, the state anthem was played at the end.

A similar issue had surfaced during Vijay’s earlier oath-taking ceremony as Chief Minister, drawing criticism from opposition parties and sections of political observers.

The ruling TVK had earlier attributed the change to procedural instructions and indicated that the conventional order would be restored in future state functions. Thursday’s ceremony, however, again triggered criticism online and among opposition leaders.

Congress Back In Power

The cabinet induction is politically significant for the Congress party, which has returned to the Tamil Nadu government after 59 years.

The party last held power in the state before 1967, during the period when the region was still known as Madras State. Congress leaders including K. Kamaraj played a central role in state politics during that era.

For decades afterward, Tamil Nadu politics remained dominated by regional formations such as the DMK and AIADMK, with Congress largely confined to alliance politics.

The current arrangement with Vijay’s TVK marks a major shift in the state’s political landscape ahead of the government’s first full legislative session.

Focus Shifts To Governance

With the cabinet now expanded, attention is expected to move toward portfolio allocation and the government’s early policy decisions.

Officials indicated that ministerial departments could be announced soon. The new administration is also likely to prioritise welfare measures, employment issues and state-finance management in the coming weeks.

Despite the controversies during the ceremony, the Vijay-led Tamil Nadu Cabinet expansion has become one of the most closely watched political developments in the state this year.