Actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday morning [5].
The transition marks a significant shift in the state's political landscape, as Vijay leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) into government for the first time.
The swearing-in ceremony took place around 10 a.m. at Nehru Stadium in Chennai [5]. Security was tightened around the stadium and Vijay's Chennai residence to manage the crowds attending the event [2, 3].
Vijay's path to the chief minister's office followed a strong performance in the assembly elections. While reports on the exact seat count vary, some sources said the TVK won 108 seats in its debut Assembly election [1]. Other reports said the party's tally reached 117 MLAs [3].
Despite the variations in initial counts, the TVK required a total of 118 seats to reach the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly [3]. The party successfully crossed this threshold after receiving support from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchasi (VCK), which pushed the TVK tally beyond the 118-seat requirement [4].
This coalition support ensured that the TVK could form a stable government and proceed with the official oath ceremony. The event marks the formal beginning of Vijay's tenure as the head of the state executive.
“Actor-turned-politician Thalapathy Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu”
The ascension of Thalapathy Vijay to the chief ministership represents the successful translation of cinematic popularity into legislative power. By securing a majority through a combination of direct wins and strategic alliances with parties like the VCK, the TVK has disrupted the traditional political dominance in Tamil Nadu, signaling a potential shift toward new leadership in the region.
