Vijay Expands Tamil Nadu Cabinet Again; VCK & IUML Leaders Take Oath As Ministers | Top Details

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Live visuals that are now coming in from the state. These are visuals of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and he is with the governor.

[00:00:10]This is remember after the cabinet expansion that we saw yesterday. There are many leaders of the TVK as well as two MLAs of the Congress party who have now become ministers. They have now all been inducted into the cabinet after which now we're seeing the visuals of the Chief Minister with the governor.

[00:00:28]And the cabinet expansion. There has been a lot of talk around the same. Currently live visuals coming in. Let's cut across.

[00:00:40]My colleague Dharani is also joining us on the broadcast with the details.

[00:00:45]Well, Dharani, yesterday as the cabinet expansion was taking place, there were talk and you had also got us the information that the VCK and the IUML are not going to be a part of the cabinet expansion and today we're seeing the second part of it where they are going to be a part of the cabinet.

[00:01:05]Well, of course yesterday we reported that the VCK and the IUML were not going to be part of yesterday's cabinet expansion and that they'll be a part of the future cabinet expansion which is currently happening today. So, you know, as reported by us today Vanni Arasu from VCK and also AM Shahjahan from the IUML they're currently taking oath as a minister. You know, Shahjahan is an MLA from the Pappanasam Assembly constituency. Likewise, Vanni Arasu is an MLA from the Gingee Assembly constituency and both of them they are currently being sworn in as a minister in the presence of Chief Minister Vijay and honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu Rajendra Arlekar. So, this is in fact the first time that the VCK and the IUML they're going to be part of a cabinet here in Tamil Nadu because as far as VCK Chief Thirumavalavan is concerned since 2016 he has been urging for uh know, sharing governance for the smaller parties here in Tamil Nadu. Uh even I know before the 2026 assembly elections, uh we saw many political leaders from Tamil Nadu urge the DMK uh to give a share in power to its alliance partners in case if the DMK wins the election.

[00:02:09]But of course, now the situation is completely different. Uh the DMK has lost the election and uh Vijay Street TVK has in fact formed the government.

[00:02:16]But Vijay believes in the idea of coalition government and he uh wants to give a share of uh the the pie to all of his allies and that is why you know, yesterday we saw the Congress party uh you know, uh getting inducted into the cabinet. Two of the Congress' MLAs, uh they were sworn in as the ministers yesterday. And today the VCK and the IUML, they're also uh you know, getting inducted into the cabinet. Uh in fact, uh through sources uh we're learning that Vanni Arasu uh will be made uh the minister for Adi Dravidar welfare and likewise uh A. M. Shajahan, he'll be made as other minister for uh minorities welfare. These two are the potential portfolios that we're looking at for these two uh you know, MLAs who are being sworn at the moment. Uh so, it is a very historic moment here in Tamil Nadu because after almost 60 years, Tamil Nadu is witnessing a full-fledged coalition government in place. Uh this includes VCK that is the primary political party uh which has won 108 seats and uh three other political parties that is the Congress, VCK, and the IUML. So, it is a a full-fledged coalition government that has come to a place here in Tamil Nadu after almost six decades. So, uh this will definitely be seen as a era of coalition government, you know, the beginning of an era of coalition government in Tamil Nadu. That is what many leaders, uh many political analysts in Tamil Nadu uh seem to believe. And of course, you know, as I mentioned, as far as the portfolios are concerned, uh Vanni Arasu, senior leader from VCK, he'll be getting uh the Adi Dravidar welfare portfolio. Uh likewise, A. M. Shajahan, uh again a senior leader from IUML, he'll be getting the minorities welfare uh portfolio is what you know, we're understanding at this point in time. The official announcement about this portfolio allocation will uh you know, come uh by this afternoon or by this evening. And with with these two inclusions, now the Tamil Nadu cabinet has become, you know, a full circle. The state cabinet can have a maximum of 35 uh ministers. And including Mr. Vijay, right now, uh the cabinet has 35 ministers. And the cabinet has become, you know, a a full cabinet. You know, it has come to its full strength is what we can now see. Okay. All right. Let's dip into the live visuals coming in. A. M.

[00:04:12]Sjah Jahan of the IUML as well as V.

[00:04:14]Arasu of the VCK are joining the cabinet of Chief Minister Vijay.

[00:05:04]So, these are the live visuals. But, let's go back to Dharani. Dharani, there has been a lot of talk about how the oath taking has begun with Vande Mataram. And while this is mandated by the MHA order, uh there have been questions that have been raised by the DMK in this regard. Uh any update on this? Has there been a change or was it the same today as well?

[00:05:28]Well, the song sequence is pretty much the same as yesterday. In fact, Vande Mataram was sung first followed by the national anthem and then subsequently uh followed by the state song that is the Tamil Thai Vazhthu. So, we are not able to see any change in the sequence. This the same sequence uh which was followed yesterday has once again been repeated today. But, of course, yesterday we saw the DMK, uh you know, attacking the TVK government over this. The DMK accused the TVK government of not being able to stand up for the rights of Tamil Nadu and for the rights of Tamils. But, TVK came up with the justification for this yesterday. They told that, you know, the oath-taking ceremonies they are being organized and they are being conducted by the Lok Bhavan. It is happening inside the Lok Bhavan. It is being organized by the Lok Bhavan. And, you know, every single, you know, responsibility in connection with these oath-taking ceremonies they are, you know, in the hands of the Lok Bhavan. The state government is not involved in this entire process in any way is what, you know, the TVK leaders yesterday told us.

[00:06:25]So, they are passing the onus to the Lok Bhavan and also to the governor. So, they're telling that, you know, we've requested the governor to give preference to the state song, that is Tamil Thai Vazhthu. But, despite our requests, the Lok Bhavan they say that, you know, based on the directions from the Union government, this is the order that they need to follow and that is what they are doing. We can't do anything about it is what the TVK leaders here in Tamil Nadu are telling.

[00:06:48]But, they're also giving an assurance that, you know, outside Lok Bhavan, be it in the assembly or be it any government event, they say that this will not be the case. You know, the state anthem will be given its due preference. It will be given its due credits is what, you know, the TVK leaders have assured the people of Tamil Nadu. So, you know, in the state assembly, you know, sessions and also during the government events outside, the state anthem will be sung first followed by the national anthem end of the event is the assurance coming in from the TVK at this point in time. But, as far as today oath-taking ceremony is concerned, we couldn't see any change in the sequence of songs, you know, just like yesterday Vande Mataram was sung first followed by the national anthem and then subsequently followed by the state song, that is Tamil Thai Vazhthu.

[00:07:31]All right. Dharani, thank you for joining us with all those details.