The TVK-led Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday withdrew the appointment of Vijay’s astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, as the Officer on Special Duty (Political) to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, following immense backlash from opposition as well as allies over the decision.
Following the decision, AIADMK took a jibe with party leader IS Inbadurai, saying that the astrologer, who predicted TVK’s victory failed to foresee his own fate.
“The astrologer failed to predict his own fate.Bad days have begun for the Vijay government,” he said in a post on X.
The astrologer failed to predict his own fate.Bad days have begun for the Vijay government.@TVKVijayHQ @CMOTamilnadu
— I.S.INBADURAI (@IInbadurai) May 13, 2026
The decision to revoke the decision came
after Vettrivel was elevated to an OSD in the Chief Minister’s department. Apart from being the astrologer, he was also TVK’s spokesperson and worked as a close aide to the leadership during the last electoral campaign.
On May 4, amid the counting of votes, when TVK had started pulling ahead, Radhan Pandit was the first person to visit Vijay.
The move sparked a major controversy in Tamil Nadu’s political circles as parties like Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), CPIM, and CPI, which extended their support to the TVK government, openly criticised the move.
The DMDK also questioned the decision taken by the Vijay-led government. The party sought clarity over the role and credentials of the astrologer who has now been appointed as Officer on Special Duty in the Chief Minister’s Office.
“Astrologer appointment sends wrong message to youth,” the party said.
Ahead of the floor test in the assembly, VCK MLA Vaani Arsu urged the government to focus on scientific and rational thinking and not to pay any heed to things that are largely considered superstition.
“Our government should give importance to scientific thinking and not astrology,” he said.
Amid mounting criticism, Vijay had indicated that the appointment of the astrologer could be revoked.
Following the floor test, the Chief Minister said the decision would be reviewed in view of objections raised by several political parties. Shortly after his remarks, Vettrivel’s appointment was cancelled.


/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-177886282797047720.webp)




/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-177886542726184122.webp)


/images/ppid_59c68470-image-177886507037891146.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-177886504809939351.webp)
