Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay, who took oath as Tamil Nadu’s next Chief Minister on May 10, has swung into action on his
very first day of assuming the office. The newly elected chief minister, on his day one at the job, called a meeting of officials, reviewed the law and order situation in the state, and signed a few files, approving a number of poll promises he made to the people during the campaign. Vijay, whose political party TVK scripted history after clinching the power in its debut election, first few decisions focused on providing free electricity for the citizens, establishing the ‘Singa Pen’ special forces - focusing on women’s safety, setting up of anti-drug units, and announced plans to release a “White Paper” giving an overview of TN’s financial status. Besides this, he also signed orders expanding free bus travel for women in government-run services.
Free Electricity
In one of his very first decisions, Tamil Nadu C Joseph Vijay approved the rollout of 200 units of free electricity once in every two months.
Setting Up “Singa Pen”
CM Vijay approved a dedicated fast-response task force “Singapen” to priority, and focus on women’s safety.
ALSO READ | MGR Did It Right, Jayalalithaa Did It Right — 5 Things Vijay Must Not Get Wrong
Anti-Drug Squads
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay has also given orders to set up specialized anti-drug task force units in every district and city, to curb the drugs menace.
Free Bus Travel for Women
After becoming the chief minister, CM Joseph signed orders to implement and extend free bus rides for women, as part of one of the welfare schemes, focusing on women’s safety.
White Paper
CM Vijay has said that the newly formed TVK government would release a “White Paper” to list out the state’s financial status and debt left by the previous government as a measure to remain transparent.
Earlier on Monday, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, nine other ministers, former CMs including Edappadi K Palaniswami, ex- deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin and the newly elected MLAs took the oath of office in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Pro-tem Speaker MV Karuppaiah, praising Vijay's leadership and victory, initiated the proceedings on administration of the oath of office for MLAs in the first session of the 17th Assembly.
The chief minister was the first to take oath as MLA and ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, KG Arunraj, KA Sengottaiyan, P Venkataramanan, R Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan and TK Prabhu followed suit.
Vijay Calls Upon MK Stalin, Vaiko Ahead of Floor Test
TN Assembly's current strength is 233 while the actual full strength is 234. Vijay won from Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East and he has resigned from the latter.
In the Assembly, TVK has 107 seats (after Vijay's resignation from Tiruchirappali East) and the support of 13 MLAs of Congress, VCK, IUML and the Left parties.
Vijay's TVK, which emerged as the single largest party in Tamil Nadu with 108 seats (now 107), fell short of an absolute majority.
After five days (till Sunday, May 9) of hectic meetings with regional parties, Vijay was able to secure the support of Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPIM), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), taking the total tally to 121, three more required for government formation.
Vijay will now face a floor test where his government will have to prove the majority in the Tamil Nadu assembly, that means, support of 118 MLAs.
Meanwhile, after winning polls and assuming office as the chief minister, Vijay for the first time, met Stalin, calling it a courtesy call. Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin accorded a warm welcome to CM Vijay.
The meeting happens a day after Vijay's harsh criticism of the previous DMK regime for the Rs 10 lakh crore debt burden on the state. He had also indirectly hit out at the DMK for "multiple power centres" and had asserted that he was the only power centre in his TVK regime.
DMK chief Stalin had hit back at Vijay for his debt burden jibe. Later, Vijay called on MDMK founder Vaiko.
Vijay's brief meeting with Stalin and Udhayanidhi happens days ahead of the crucial floor test in the TN Assembly to demonstrate the TVK regime's majority in the House on May 13. VCK, IUML and the Left parties that have extended support to the TVK are part of the DMK-led front.
With inputs from PTI
