Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay resigned from the Tiruchirappalli East assembly constituency on Sunday. Vijay, who was sworn in earlier in the day as the 13th chief minister of Tamil Nadu, chose to retain the Perambur seat and vacate Trichy East.
Swearing-In Ceremony and First Address
Vijay took oath as chief minister at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai before assuming office at the Secretariat housed inside the historic Fort St George complex. Addressing a large gathering after the swearing-in ceremony, Vijay said his government would mark the beginning of a “real, secular and social justice” era in Tamil Nadu.
“I know very well about normal and common people's mind and how life is like for someone; I was born to an ordinary assistant director. I do not come from a royal family. I am just like your son, your daughter, your elder brother, or your younger brother--that is how I see myself. And it was because you saw me that way that you gave me such a great place in cinema,” said Vijay.
“Now, leaving all of that behind and entering politics to repay my debt of gratitude to you, you embraced me with so much love and affection, saying, ‘We are here for you, Vijay. We will take care of everything.’ At this moment, I must say this: throughout this journey and this process, I faced countless hardships and humiliations. But despite all that, you too endured difficulties and insults for my sake. You never cared about any of it; you treated my pain as your own and stood beside me throughout. Today, when I say, ‘I, Joseph Vijay...,’ you have made it a reality. I truly do not know what to say,” he added.
Vijay’s Vision for Governance
Projecting himself as an ordinary citizen rather than a larger-than-life political figure, Vijay said he would avoid making unrealistic promises to the people. “My dear people, my own family--I am not some divine messenger or prophet. I am just an ordinary human being living a normal life. I will never deceive you with false promises; I will only promise what is possible. You may wonder, ‘Then will he not do what seems impossible?’ But when crores of people stand with me, I have the confidence and belief in my heart that together we can face anything, no matter what comes our way,” he said.
Political Journey and Background
Although TVK was formally launched only in 2024, Vijay had long been viewed as a socially conscious public figure through his films and outreach activities. His movies frequently addressed issues such as corruption, drug abuse and social inequality, fuelling speculation about his political entry since 2009.
Over the years, Vijay also remained involved in several social initiatives before formally entering electoral politics. In the 2026 assembly elections, he contested from two constituencies — Perambur and Trichy East — and emerged victorious in both.
Vijay’s decision to resign from Trichy East and retain Perambur is seen as a strategic move to consolidate his political base in the Chennai region, where Perambur is located. The development comes as his government begins its term, with expectations running high for transformative governance.
