Thalapathy Vijay took the oath of office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2024, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium [1].
The swearing-in marks a significant political shift as an actor-turned-politician leads the state's executive branch for the first time under the TVK party banner. This transition follows days of political uncertainty regarding the formation of a stable government in the region.
Vijay, who is 51 years old [2], was sworn in at 10 a.m. IST [3]. The ceremony took place in Chennai, where the new Chief Minister officially assumed leadership of the state government [4].
The path to power required strategic alliances to secure a working majority in the 234-member Legislative Assembly [5]. To govern, a party or coalition must reach a majority threshold of 118 MLAs [6].
TVK secured critical coalition support from the VCK and IUML to enable the government's formation [7]. Despite this support, some reports indicate the TVK tally stood at 117 MLAs [8], just one seat short of the official majority mark. Other reports state that the combined support from the VCK and IUML allowed the party to cross the required threshold to lead the Assembly [9].
The event was attended by various political figures and supporters, signaling the start of the TVK-led administration. The formation of this government ends a period of deadlock and establishes the TVK as the dominant political force in the state's current legislative cycle.
“Thalapathy Vijay took the oath of office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu”
The ascent of Thalapathy Vijay to the Chief Minister's office underscores the enduring influence of cinema stars in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. By leveraging coalition support from the VCK and IUML to navigate a narrow margin in the Assembly, the TVK party has transitioned from a political challenger to the governing authority, potentially disrupting the long-standing dominance of established regional parties.
