Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay appointed astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as a political adviser and Officer on Special Duty [1, 2, 3].
The decision has sparked immediate friction within the state's governing coalition. Allies of the Chief Minister argue that the appointment of a spiritual practitioner to a high-level political role contradicts the principles of a secular administration.
Radhan Pandit Vettrivel was named to the position of Officer on Special Duty for political affairs [2]. While some reports refer to the role as a political adviser [1], the core of the controversy remains the professional background of the appointee.
Allied parties, most notably the Congress, said the move was unacceptable [1, 3]. These partners have raised objections regarding the integration of superstition into the formal political decision-making process of the state government [1].
Reports of a rift within the Vijay government have surfaced online following the announcement [2]. The tension highlights a growing divide between the Chief Minister's personal advisory preferences and the expectations of his coalition partners.
The appointment comes at a time when the administration is seeking to maintain a stable alliance to govern Tamil Nadu [1, 2]. The objection from the Congress and other allies suggests that the use of astrological guidance in governance may be a point of contention for the coalition's secular identity [1, 3].
“Allied parties said the appointment was unacceptable in a secular government.”
This appointment creates a ideological clash between the Chief Minister's personal beliefs and the secular mandates of his coalition partners. By elevating an astrologer to a formal government post, Vijay risks alienating key allies like the Congress, potentially destabilizing the administrative unity required to govern the state.
