Vijay, the chief of the Tamil Vannimai Katchi (TVK), will take the oath of office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday [1].
The appointment marks a significant shift in the state's political landscape as a cinema star transitions into the highest executive office. His ascent follows a period of intense negotiation to secure a governing majority in the assembly.
The oath ceremony is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. [2] at Raj Bhavan in Chennai [3]. Massive crowds of supporters have already begun gathering outside the governor's residence to witness the event [1].
Vijay's path to power required building a coalition beyond his own party's performance. The TVK won 108 seats in the assembly election [2]. Because the majority threshold in the 234-member assembly is 118 seats [2], the party remained short of the mark needed to govern alone.
To bridge this gap, the VCK and IUML provided unconditional support to the TVK [3]. This alliance brought the total backing to 120 MLAs [1], allowing Vijay to form the government [3].
Despite the swearing-in ceremony, the new administration must still prove its stability in the legislature. An assembly floor test is set for May 13, 2026 [3], where the government will formally demonstrate its majority support.
The transition comes after what observers described as a week-long political blockbuster [4], as the TVK chief navigated the complexities of coalition building to finalize his claim to the chief ministership.
“Vijay, the chief of the Tamil Vannimai Katchi (TVK), will take the oath of office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu”
The rise of Vijay represents the continued influence of cinema stars in Tamil Nadu's political culture. By securing the support of the VCK and IUML, the TVK has moved from a strong plurality to a functional majority, though the upcoming floor test on May 13 will be the definitive legal hurdle for the new government's legitimacy.
