Vijay Set to Take Oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

Historic Shift in Tamil Nadu Politics: Actor C. Joseph Vijay to Become Chief Minister

After nearly six decades of dominance by the DMK and AIADMK, actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay is set to make history by becoming the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has emerged as a major force in its maiden Assembly election outing, winning 108 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections.

The TVK's impressive performance can be attributed to Vijay's popularity and a growing appetite for change among voters fatigued by the long-standing DMK-AIADMK binary. Following hectic post-poll negotiations, Vijay secured support from the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML, helping the alliance cross the majority mark of 118 seats and paving the way for him to lead the coalition government.

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Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Arlekar has formally appointed Vijay as Chief Minister and asked him to prove his majority in the Assembly before May 13. Vijay submitted letters of support from alliance partners to stake claim to form the government.

With his elevation, Vijay will become the first leader outside the DMK and AIADMK camps to head the Tamil Nadu government since 1967. Vijay's rise to power has been facilitated by his mass appeal, with several observers comparing his political appeal to that of former Chief Minister and actor M G Ramachandran.

Popularly known as "Thalapathy," Vijay has been a household name in Tamil Nadu for his film career. His foray into politics has been met with enthusiasm, with many supporters viewing him as the next major figure in the legacy of late actor-politician Vijayakanth.

Politically, Vijay has positioned himself within the broader Dravidian ideological framework while presenting TVK as an alternative to the traditional Dravidian parties. In his first major political speech on October 28, 2024, he described social reformer Periyar E V Ramasamy as his ideological guide, while clarifying that his party would not adopt Periyar's atheistic views. He also invoked leaders such as C N Annadurai, K Kamaraj, and B R Ambedkar as inspirations for TVK's social justice agenda.

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Vijay has also openly embraced his Christian identity while strongly advocating secular politics. Though TVK was officially launched only in 2024, speculation around Vijay's political entry had persisted for over a decade. Through his films and public outreach, he often touched upon issues such as corruption, drug abuse, and governance, while also engaging in social welfare activities long before formally entering politics.

In the 2026 Assembly elections, Vijay contested and won from both Perambur and Trichy East constituencies and is expected to vacate one of the seats. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.