Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Joseph Vijay took the oath of office as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday [1].
The swearing-in ceremony marks a seismic shift in the state's political landscape. For the first time since 1967, a leader from a party other than the DMK or AIADMK has ascended to the chief minister's office [1].
The ceremony took place at 10 a.m. at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in Chennai [1, 2]. Supporters gathered in large numbers, greeting the new leader with loud cheers as he assumed power [2].
Vijay enters office as the ninth chief minister of Tamil Nadu [3]. His ascent follows a debut election performance where the TVK secured 108 seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections [3]. This victory ended decades of dominance by the two traditional political powerhouses that had previously controlled the region.
The transition represents a departure from the established bipartisan order that has defined Tamil Nadu politics for nearly 60 years. By capturing a significant portion of the legislature in a first-time run, the TVK has disrupted the long-standing electoral cycle of the state [1, 3].
Officials and dignitaries attended the event in Chennai to witness the formal transfer of power. The event concluded with the official administration of the oath, cementing Vijay's role as the state's executive head [1, 2].
“Vijay becomes the first leader outside the DMK and AIADMK to lead the state since 1967”
The victory of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam signals a collapse of the long-term duopoly held by the DMK and AIADMK. By securing 108 seats in a debut appearance, the TVK has not only won the government but has fundamentally altered the voter coalition in Tamil Nadu, suggesting a growing appetite for third-party alternatives in a region previously defined by two competing legacies.
