Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay, president of Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026 [4].
The event marks a historic shift in regional power, ending roughly six decades of political dominance by the DMK and AIADMK parties [5].
The ceremony took place at 10 a.m. [3] at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. Vijay took the oath of office after his TVK-led coalition secured 120 MLAs [1], surpassing the 118-seat majority threshold required to form a government in the state assembly [2].
Governor Rajendra Arlekar administered the oath to Vijay during the proceedings. The transition follows a period of significant political realignment in the state, as the actor-turned-politician transitioned from the cinema screen to the head of the state government.
This victory effectively displaces the long-standing Dravidian ideological grip on the state's administration. The TVK coalition's ability to consolidate 120 seats [1] provided the necessary mandate to replace the previous administration and install Vijay as the new chief executive.
“Vijay's TVK coalition ends approximately 60 years of Dravidian rule in the state”
The ascent of Vijay and the TVK represents a fundamental break in Tamil Nadu's political trajectory. By ending the 60-year cycle of DMK and AIADMK governance, the state is moving away from the traditional Dravidian binary that has defined its social and political landscape since the mid-20th century. The success of a celebrity-led party in capturing a legislative majority suggests a shift in voter priorities toward new leadership styles and platforms.
