CHENNAI – In a landmark moment that alters the course of Tamil Nadu’s political history, Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay, president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), is set to be sworn in as the state’s Chief Minister today, May 10, 2026.
The ceremony, scheduled for 10:00 AM at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, marks the first time in nearly six decades that a government led by neither the DMK nor the AIADMK will hold power in the state.
The Road to the Majority
The path to government formation followed days of high-stakes negotiations after the assembly election results were declared on May 4. While the TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, it initially fell short of the magic majority mark of 118 in the 234-member House.
The deadlock was broken on Saturday when Vijay secured formal support from several key allies, taking his coalition’s total to 120 MLAs:
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Indian National Congress (INC): 5 MLAs
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Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK): 2 MLAs
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CPI & CPI(M): 2 MLAs each
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Indian Union Muslim League (IUML): 2 MLAs
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar officially appointed Vijay as the Chief Minister-designate late Saturday evening after reviewing the letters of support.
Key Highlights of the Transition
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Coalition Governance: For the first time, Tamil Nadu will see a coalition government, with reports suggesting the Congress may join the Council of Ministers while other allies provide outside support.
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Cabinet Formation: Alongside Vijay, a core team of approximately nine TVK ministers and two Congress ministers is expected to take the oath of office today.
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Floor Test: The Governor has directed the new Chief Minister to prove his majority via a vote of confidence on the floor of the Assembly on or before May 13, 2026.
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High-Profile Guests: Several national leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, are expected to attend the ceremony in a show of solidarity for the newly formed alliance.
A New Political Era
The 51-year-old actor-turned-politician has achieved what many deemed impossible—breaking the “Dravidian duopoly” that has dominated the state since 1967. As he transitions from “Sarkar” on the silver screen to leading the actual Tamil Nadu Sarkar, the state awaits his first official policy announcements, particularly regarding the Master Plan 2041 and the implementation of his party’s welfare-focused manifesto.
