Vijay, the leader of the Tamil Nadu party TVK, took the oath of office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday [1].
The swearing-in ceremony marks a significant political shift in the state as a veteran actor transitions into the highest executive role. His ascent follows a period of coalition building to secure a governing mandate in the assembly.
The ceremony took place at 10 a.m. [2] on May 10, 2026 [3], at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai [1]. Governor Rajendra Arlekar administered the oath to the 51-year-old leader [1].
To form the government, Vijay secured support from a coalition including Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML [4]. This alliance was critical for meeting the legislative requirements of the state assembly. In the 234-member Assembly, a party needs 118 MLAs to cross the majority mark [5].
Reports on the exact seat count varied during the formation process. One report indicated the TVK tally stood at 117 MLAs before the coalition support was finalized [5]. The Governor invited Vijay to be sworn in after the coalition confirmed it had achieved the numbers needed to govern [4].
Vijay's transition from the film industry to the chief minister's office follows the trajectory of several high-profile figures in Tamil Nadu politics. The new government now faces the task of managing a diverse coalition of left-wing, and regional parties to maintain stability in the assembly.
“Vijay, the leader of the Tamil Nadu party TVK, took the oath of office as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.”
The appointment of Vijay as Chief Minister underscores the continuing influence of cinema stars in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. By forming a coalition with the Congress and various left-wing parties, the TVK has moved from a disruptor role to a governing body, meaning its policy agenda must now balance the interests of multiple ideological partners to maintain its narrow majority.
