Actor-turned-politician Vijay took the oath of office as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu during a swearing-in ceremony on May 9, 2026 [1].
The appointment ends days of political suspense in the state. It marks a significant shift in regional power as a cinematic figure transitions into the state's highest executive role.
Vijay is the leader of the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) [1]. The ceremony took place at a stadium in Chennai, where the new chief minister officially assumed power [2]. While some reports scheduled the event for 11 a.m., other sources indicated the ceremony was set for 10 a.m. [3, 4].
The path to the chief minister's office required navigating a complex set of alliances. The TVK won 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly election [5]. To form a government, a party or coalition must reach the majority mark of 118 MLAs in the 234-member assembly [6].
Securing those remaining seats proved volatile. Initial alliance talks brought the TVK support tally to 117 MLAs [7]. However, the number later slipped to 116 after the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) withdrew its backing [8].
Ultimately, the TVK secured the necessary support from alliance partners, including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchasi (VCK), and the IUML [1, 9]. Live updates during the transition indicated the TVK expected to hold a tally of 120 MLAs [9].
This victory allows Vijay to lead the state after a period of intense negotiation. He is described as the first non-Dravidian leader to hold the state's top post [10].
“The appointment ends days of political suspense in the state.”
The ascent of Vijay to the chief ministership represents a fusion of celebrity influence and electoral politics. By bridging the gap between 108 seats and the 118-seat majority through a coalition of smaller parties like the VCK and IUML, the TVK has established a governing mandate that relies on strategic alliance management rather than a standalone majority.
