Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Grows Cabinet to 33, Congress Makes Historic Return to State Government After 59 Long Years

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay inducted 23 new ministers on May 21 including two Congress MLAs ending nearly six decades of Congress’s exclusion from Tamil Nadu’s government. The move brings the cabinet to 33 ministers and marks the dawn of genuine coalition governance in the Dravidian heartland.

A Historic Day at Lok Bhavan

Chennai witnessed a moment of political significance on Thursday, May 21 one that no Tamil Nadu government had delivered in nearly six decades. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet by adding 23 new ministers, two of whom hailed from the Indian National Congress. The swearing-in ceremony unfolded at the Lok Bhavan, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to each minister-designate.

The event opened with the rendition of Vande Mataram, followed by the national anthem and then Tamil Thai Vazhthu, the state anthem. This sequencing followed the TVK government’s earlier clarification that Tamil Thai Vazhthu would be accorded priority at all future official events, after minor controversy during the May 10 swearing-in.

Also Read | Congress Returns to Tamil Nadu Government After 59 Years, Two MLAs Join CM Vijay’s Expanding Cabinet

Congress Back in Power For the First Time Since 1967

The most striking chapter of Thursday’s ceremony was the return of the Congress to Tamil Nadu’s corridors of power. Killiyoor MLA S Rajesh Kumar and Melur MLA P Viswanathan took oath as ministers the first Congress legislators to hold government office in the state since 1967.

The last Congress chief minister of Tamil Nadu then called Madras state was M Bhakthavatsalam, who led the government from 1963 to 1967. The Dravidian revolution of 1967 swept him out, as DMK founder CN Annadurai delivered what became the first non-Congress government in post-independent India. In the decades that followed, both the DMK and AIADMK the two pillars of Dravidian politics never accommodated Congress in any coalition arrangement, even during periods of alliance.

That wall built over 59 years finally fell on Thursday.

AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, described the moment as a turning point. “Congress cadres have been striving for power for the last 59 years and have been working for it with loyalty and dedication. Now, they have got it,” Chodankar said.

Congress Lok Sabha MP from Karur, Jothimani, echoed that sentiment in a statement: “After 59 years, two members of the Congress party have taken up positions in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet. This is a highly joyful moment for the Congress party. Heartfelt congratulations to elder brother Viswanathan and younger brother Rajeshkumar! May this responsibility turn out to be a great opportunity to render exemplary service to the people of Tamil Nadu.”

Congress supporters across social media also noted the poignant timing May 21 is the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, himself a towering Congress figure.

An Awkward Oath-Taking Moment

The ceremony produced one unexpected moment and it involved a Congress minister. While reading the oath from a paper, S Rajesh Kumar suddenly broke from the script to hail Congress leaders Kamaraj, Rajiv Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi. Governor Arlekar was quick to intervene, remarking plainly: “That is not part of your oath.” Rajesh Kumar corrected course and completed the oath.

Record Dalit Representation: A Political First

Beyond the Congress homecoming, Thursday’s expansion set another benchmark the highest number of Dalit ministers ever seen in a Tamil Nadu government. The Vijay-led cabinet now includes seven Dalit ministers surpassing the previous high of four under the outgoing DMK government.

The seven Dalit ministers are Rajmohan (Egmore), Kamali S (Avanashi), V Gandhiraj (Arakkonam), Mathan Raja (Ottapidaram), Logesh Tamilselvan (Rasipuram), P Viswanathan (Melur), and Thennarasu K (Sriperumbudur). Six of the seven were elected from SC-reserved constituencies.

The induction of Rasipuram MLA Logesh Tamilselvan carried a particular emotional weight. He is the son of former Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal a Dalit leader from the Arunthathiyar community whose story inspired the 2023 Tamil film Maamannan, starring Vadivelu and Udhayanidhi Stalin. Former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had widely been praised for elevating Dhanapal to the speakership. Now, his son joins the cabinet.

Women, Minorities, and Old Loyalists

The expanded cabinet also included four women ministers Vijayalakshmi C, Kamali S, Jegadeshwari K, and Keerthana adding visible gender representation to the new government. Mohamed Farvas V and N Marie Wilson joined as the minority community representatives.

Vijay’s long-time friend and popular cine star Srinath elected from Thoothukudi was the first to take oath on the day. The inclusion of Srinath and several others who rose through the Thalapathy Vijay Makkal Iyakkam structure signals that the CM placed trust in those who backed him through his years as a grassroots movement leader.

Srirangam MLA S Ramesh was allocated the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments portfolio. Senior leader KA Sengottaiyan shifted from Finance to Revenue and Disaster Management.

Cabinet Strength Hits 33 : Three Slots Remain

With Thursday’s expansion, the Council of Ministers now stands at 33 including the Chief Minister. The constitutional ceiling for Tamil Nadu’s cabinet is 35, which is 15 per cent of the assembly’s total strength. This leaves three slots open.

Both the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) who currently extend outside support are expected to join the government. The IUML has agreed in principle but had not finalised which of its two MLAs would take the ministerial berth. The VCK has already submitted one MLA’s name to TVK leadership. No AIADMK rebels found place in this expansion.

This cabinet built on coalition arithmetic is being described by analysts as Tamil Nadu’s first genuine coalition government of the post-independence era.