C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday at Chennai's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, marking a major political milestone for the actor-turned-politician and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, following its strong performance in the Assembly elections.
Thousands of supporters gathered at the stadium as Governor R. V. Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vijay and nine members of his cabinet, including senior leader K. A. Sengottaiyan and younger leaders T. K. Prabhu and S. Keerthana. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, family members and several political dignitaries attended the ceremony.
One of the notable moments during the event was the rendition of "Vande Mataram" in full, followed by the national anthem "Jana Gana Mana" and the state invocation song "Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu." The sequence drew political attention and sparked debate among opposition parties, with some leaders stating that the Tamil invocation song should traditionally be accorded precedence at official state functions.
The sequence was in line with the Union Home Ministry's January directive stating that when both the national song and national anthem are played together, "Vande Mataram," written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, should be rendered first. The Centre is also observing the 150th year of "Vande Mataram," which played a significant role during India's freedom movement.
Soon after taking charge, Vijay signed key government files, including measures to provide 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers and the formation of a special force focused on women's safety.
Addressing the gathering after taking oath, Vijay said he did not come from a royal lineage and thanked the people for placing their trust in him. He assured citizens that his government would work sincerely and would not rely on false promises.
The ceremony concluded on a celebratory note, with Vijay taking a group selfie on stage alongside Rahul Gandhi, cabinet colleagues and senior leaders, as supporters cheered the beginning of a new political chapter in Tamil Nadu.
