Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay took the oath of office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, May 10, 2026.
The swearing-in marks a significant political shift in the state as a former actor successfully transitions into the highest executive office. This transition follows a period of intense coalition building to secure a governing majority in the assembly.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai. Vijay, 51 years old [4], leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party. The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Rahul Gandhi and actress Trisha Krishnan.
To form the government, the TVK needed to reach the majority threshold of 118 MLAs [1]. While the TVK won 108 of the 234 seats in the assembly [2], the party secured the necessary support through negotiations with other political entities. This included backing from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which contributed five and two MLAs, respectively [3].
Reports on the final tally varied before the ceremony, with some sources placing the TVK's total at 117 MLAs while others emphasized the reliance on alliance support to cross the majority mark [1, 2].
Following the ceremony, Vijay addressed the public regarding his administration's commitment to transparency. "Will not deceive people with false promises," Vijay said [5].
The new government now faces the requirement of a floor test to formally prove its majority in the house.
“"Will not deceive people with false promises."”
The ascent of Vijay to the Chief Minister's office represents the continued influence of cinema stars in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. By forming a coalition with parties like the VCK and IUML, the TVK is transitioning from a populist movement into a pragmatic governing entity that must now balance a diverse set of ally interests to maintain stability.
