C. Joseph Vijay, chief of the Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday [5].
The transition marks a significant shift in the state's political landscape as a new party takes control of the government. The ceremony represents the culmination of a campaign that leveraged Vijay's widespread popularity to challenge established political powers in the region.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at 10 a.m. [4] at Nehru Stadium in Chennai [6]. Governor Rajendra Arlekar administered the oath of office to the TVK leader on May 10, 2026 [5].
To form the government, TVK required a majority in the 234-member assembly, where the threshold for a majority is 118 seats [3]. Reports on the party's exact standing vary. The Indian Express said TVK won 108 seats on its own [1], while the Hindustan Times said the party's tally stood at 117 MLAs [2].
Because the party did not reach the 118-seat mark independently, Vijay secured the necessary support through a coalition. This alliance includes the Congress party, the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], the Viduthalai Sirukalai Kazhagam (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) [1, 3].
The event drew massive crowds to the stadium as supporters gathered to witness the transition of power. The new administration now faces the task of governing one of India's most industrial and populous states while maintaining the stability of its multi-party coalition.
“C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday.”
The ascent of C. Joseph Vijay to the chief minister's office signals the successful transition of a cinematic icon into a governing political force. By securing a coalition with established entities like Congress and the CPI, TVK has moved from a disruptive outsider to the center of Tamil Nadu's administrative power, though its reliance on these allies to cross the 118-seat threshold may influence its legislative priorities.
