Tamil Nadu: C Joseph Vijay, the film superstar-turned-politician popularly known as ‘Thalapathy’ Vijay, was sworn in as the new chief minister of Tamil Nadu, marking a major political shift in one of India’s most influential states.
The oath-taking ceremony took place at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium under tight security, with nine ministers taking the oath alongside the 51-year-old leader. Senior politicians, film personalities, business leaders and thousands of supporters attended the event, turning it into a high-profile political spectacle.
Vijay’s newly-formed party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single largest party in the recent assembly elections, winning 108 seats in the 234-member legislature. However, the party fell short of the 118 seats required for a majority, triggering days of political uncertainty in the state.
The breakthrough came after support from four regional and Left-aligned parties pushed TVK’s numbers to 120 legislators. The supporting parties include Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League, each contributing two seats. India’s main opposition Indian National Congress had also extended support shortly after the election results.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar had initially declined to immediately invite Vijay to form the government, insisting that TVK demonstrate majority support in the assembly. Vijay reportedly met the governor four times over four days before finally receiving the formal invitation to take office.
The political rise of Vijay has drawn comparisons with legendary actor-politician M. G. Ramachandran, who transformed his film popularity into political dominance in the late 1970s. Analysts say Vijay’s massive appeal among youth and women voters helped TVK dismantle the decades-long dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
TVK’s victory also dealt a major blow to outgoing Chief Minister M K Stalin and the ruling DMK alliance. Political observers described the election as one of the most dramatic realignments in Tamil Nadu politics in decades.
Known for his blockbuster film career spanning 69 movies, Vijay launched TVK in 2024 and soon announced his retirement from cinema to focus entirely on politics. Despite lacking prior political experience, the actor successfully converted his immense fan following into electoral support.
The days following the election saw intense speculation over possible coalition combinations, including reports of unlikely alliances between long-time rivals DMK and AIADMK. However, Vijay’s coalition-building efforts ultimately secured enough backing to form a stable government.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attended the swearing-in ceremony after flying in from Delhi, highlighting the national attention surrounding Vijay’s rise to power. With TVK now leading the government, all eyes are on Vijay’s transition from cinema icon to administrator as he begins his first term in office in one of India’s most politically significant states.
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