Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay further expanded his cabinet on Friday with the induction of leaders from alliance partners Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Indian Union Muslim League
(IUML), a day after 23 MLAs were sworn into the Council of Ministers.
VCK MLA Vanni Arasu and IUML leader AM Shah Jahan took oath as ministers in the Vijay-led government in Lok Bhavan, formally bringing both parties into the ruling coalition.
The latest expansion comes after 21 legislators from Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and two from ally Indian National Congress were inducted into the ministry on Thursday.
With Vanni Arasu’s induction, the number of Dalit ministers in the cabinet has risen to eight, marking the highest proportional representation for the community in any Tamil Nadu ministry so far.
Vijay had first taken oath as Chief Minister along with nine ministers on May 10. Under constitutional provisions, the Tamil Nadu cabinet can have a maximum of 35 ministers, equivalent to 15 per cent of the Assembly’s total strength.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu Cabinet Expansion: 19 TVK And 2 Congress MLAs Among 23 Sworn-In As Ministers
Following Thursday’s induction of 23 MLAs and Friday’s swearing-in ceremony, the strength of the Vijay cabinet has now risen to 34, leaving just one vacancy in the ministry.
Among the 21 TVK legislators inducted on Thursday were Srinath, Kamali S, C Vijayalakshmi, RV Ranjithkumar, Vinoth, Rajeev, B Rajkumar, V Gandhiraj, Mathan Raja P, Jegadeshwari K, Rajesh Kumar S, M Vijay Balaji, Logesh Tamilselvan D, Vijay Tamilan Parthiban A, Ramesh, P Viswanathan, Kumar R, Thennarasu K, V Sampath Kumar, Mohamed Farvas J, D Sarathkumar, N Marie Wilson and Vignesh K.
The two Congress MLAs inducted into the government are Rajesh Kumar and Thiru P Viswanathan.
Their inclusion marks the first time in nearly six decades that Congress has become part of a ruling coalition in Tamil Nadu. The last Congress government in the state was headed by M. Bhaktavatsalam, whose tenure ended in March 1967.
In the recently concluded Assembly elections, TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats.
Vijay’s campaign focused on anti-corruption measures, education, youth employment and women’s welfare, helping the actor-turned-politician attract strong support from urban youth and middle-class voters.
The election also recorded an 85% voter turnout, giving momentum to TVK’s anti-establishment campaign.
