Tamil Nadu Row Erupts Over Playing National Song, Anthem Before TN State Song | WION Dispatch

Added: 2026-05-11

[00:00:00]And which I has officially started his political innings as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. But less than 24 hours in office, his government has run into a controversy as of now. This issue pertaining to the order in which the state song was played during which I swearing-in ceremony.

[00:00:18]During that event, the state song was played after the national song and the national anthem.

[00:00:24]The CPI, which have extended support to the TVK government, has strongly objected to the order in which the songs were played. The CPI state secretary issued a letter saying that the order violated long-standing convention in the state.

[00:00:39]In Tamil Nadu, official functions traditionally start with the state song and conclude with the national anthem.

[00:00:45]The CPI leader called on which I government to ensure that the state anthem is accorded primacy in future events.

[00:00:54]Under fire from ally CPI, the TVK has distanced itself from the controversy.

[00:00:58]The state minister said the TVK government had discussed the issue with the governor's team, but was overruled due to a recent circular by the Union government, which places the national song at par with the national anthem.

[00:01:11]However, the minister emphasized that this practice will not be followed going forward.

[00:01:19]Earlier this year itself, a directive issued by the Union Home Ministry made it compulsory to play the national song's full version at formal and government events. For more on this, our principal correspondent Siddharth MP has sent us this report from Chennai. Take a look.

[00:01:42]Tamil Nadu Chief Minister which I swearing-in ceremony which took place on Sunday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium has drawn criticism from his own allies owing to the sequence in which the Tamil Thai Valthu or the state invocation song was played. Usually in Tamil Nadu government events, the Tamil Thai Vazhthu is played first and the national anthem is played at the very end of the event. However, on Sunday's swearing-in, what took place was that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu was played third.

[00:02:08]In fact, it was the Vande Mataram national song that was played first, the national anthem was played second, and the state invocation song was played last or third. This has triggered criticism from Vijay's allied parties such as the VCK and the left parties.

[00:02:23]All of them questioned why convention and tradition in Tamil Nadu, which has been followed for decades, was broken at this particular event. After receiving criticism, Vijay's party distanced itself from the event and said that the protocols were done as per union government circular and it was all handled by the governor's office and done as per union government protocols.

[00:02:43]Vijay's party also emphasized that they do not prefer a change in the protocols in Tamil Nadu and they emphasized that the Tamil Thai Vazhthu was must be played first henceforth, and they emphasized that the order of playing other invocation songs or national songs first is not suitable for Tamil Nadu.

[00:02:58]From Chennai, Siddharth MP, VION World is One.

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