Vijay sworn in as Tamil Nadu chief minister, marks end of DMK-AIADMK era in state politics

Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, formally ending the decades-long political dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in the state.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Vijay at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in a ceremony attended by senior opposition leaders, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, party workers, film personalities and thousands of supporters. Nine TVK leaders were also sworn in as ministers in the new cabinet.

Vijay’s rise marks one of the biggest political shifts in Tamil Nadu in decades. After the 2026 Assembly election produced a hung verdict, TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats, still 10 short of the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly.

Over the following days, Vijay held a series of negotiations with Congress, Left parties, VCK and other smaller allies to gather enough support to form the government. Reports said TVK eventually secured the backing of more than 120 MLAs, allowing Vijay to stake claim before the Governor.

The government formation process witnessed intense political activity and uncertainty over the past week. Vijay met Governor Arlekar multiple times before finally receiving the invitation to form the government on May 9 evening. The Governor has also directed the new chief minister to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly by May 13.

The swearing-in ceremony was seen as a historic moment in Tamil Nadu politics because Vijay became the first leader outside the DMK and AIADMK camps to head the state government since 1967.

The election result had initially triggered fears of political instability after no party crossed the majority mark independently. Speculation over possible anti-TVK coordination between the DMK and AIADMK, discussions involving smaller regional parties and allegations of attempted political poaching had intensified the uncertainty around government formation.

DMK leaders, while moving into the opposition, extended formal congratulations to Vijay after the government was formed. Congress leaders also publicly backed the new administration, describing it as a mandate for political change in Tamil Nadu.

Vijay, who launched TVK after a long and successful film career, had campaigned heavily on governance reforms, anti-corruption measures and youth-focused politics during the election campaign.