CHENNAI: In a historic shift for Tamil Nadu politics, Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expanded his Cabinet at Lok Bhavan on Thursday, inducting 23 new ministers. The expansion finalized a 32-member Council of Ministers, notably marking the return of the Congress party to a Tamil Nadu government after a 59-year hiatus.
However, out of a maximum permissible strength of 35 cabinet berths, Chief Minister Vijay left exactly three positions vacant. This deliberate move serves as a strategic, conciliatory signal to two critical allies who were conspicuously absent from the swearing-in ceremony: the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
The Tactical Wait-and-Watch Strategy
Both the VCK, led by Thol Thirumavalavan, and the IUML extended crucial outside support to Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) after the May 4 election results left the new party short of the 118-seat majority mark. While TVK senior minister Aadhav Arjuna issued an open invitation for both secular parties to join the executive branch, both leaderships chose to hit the pause button.
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DMK Ties and Ideological Caution: Both parties maintain deeply entrenched, long-term ties with the MK Stalin-led DMK. Leaders from both camps initially clarified that their support for Vijay was meant primarily to stabilize the state and avert Governor’s rule. Formally entering a TVK-led cabinet requires a delicate political calculation regarding their future alignment with the Dravidian majors.
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Bargaining Leverage: By delaying their entry, the VCK and IUML retain significant leverage to negotiate for premium portfolios. Speculation has persisted regarding whether the VCK is holding out for a top-tier administrative designation or specific high-impact ministries before assigning its legislative nominees.
The Complex AIADMK Factor
The unfolding drama is further complicated by a vertical split within the opposition AIADMK. A substantial rebel faction, led by figures like CV Shanmugam, broke away to back the TVK during its initial survival test.
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The Left’s Red Line: The CPI(M) and other Left allies have already signaled that their continued support hinges on keeping the TVK cabinet ideologically coherent, warning that the inclusion of AIADMK elements could prompt a reconsideration of their alignment.
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TVK’s Cohesion Choice: To maintain long-term stability over temporary numerical gains, the TVK leadership ultimately bypassed the rebel AIADMK legislators for ministerial slots in this round, prioritizing its original secular alliance partners instead.
By keeping three cabinet chairs empty, Chief Minister Vijay has made it clear that the door remains wide open for the VCK and IUML, leaving the ball squarely in their court to decide how—and when—to transition from outside stability providers to governance partners.
