The Tamil Nadu cabinet expanded on Friday as Chief Minister Vijay inducted two new ministers, Vanni Arasu and AM Shahjahan, into his council of ministers. The oath of office was administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Chennai, marking another step in the ongoing cabinet expansion.
New Inductees and Their Parties
Vanni Arasu, representing the Tindivanam Assembly constituency, was inducted from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), led by Thol. Thirumavalavan. AM Shahjahan, from the Papanasam constituency, represents the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Their inclusion follows recommendations by Chief Minister Vijay, approved by the Governor, as part of efforts to strengthen coalition representation in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government.
Recent Cabinet Reshuffle
The induction came a day after a major cabinet reshuffle and expansion, where several TVK legislators were assigned key portfolios. On Thursday, TVK MLA B Rajkumar received the Housing and Urban Development portfolio, Vijay Tamilan Parthiban A was given Transport, RV Ranjithkumar became Forest Minister, V Sampath Kumar was allocated Backward Classes Welfare, and V Gandhiraj was appointed Co-operation Minister.
Current Cabinet Composition
With the latest additions, the Tamil Nadu cabinet now comprises 33 ministers. However, two portfolios—Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, and Minorities Welfare—remain vacant and are expected to be filled later. The cabinet also includes Congress MLAs S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan, marking the first coalition government cabinet in Tamil Nadu since Independence.
Key Portfolio Allocations
Chief Minister Vijay retained crucial portfolios including Home, Police, Municipal Administration, and Water Supply. He also continues to oversee Special Initiatives, Poverty Alleviation, and Rural Indebtedness. The Women Welfare portfolio, previously under the Chief Minister's office, has been reassigned to K Jegadeshwari, who is now Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment.
In other major allocations, TVK MLA N Marie Wilson from Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar was appointed Finance Minister, replacing senior leader KA Sengottaiyan, who moved to the Revenue department.
New AI Department
The Vijay-led government has drawn attention for creating a dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) department at the cabinet level, making Tamil Nadu the second state after Kerala to establish such a ministry.
Increased Representation
The new ministry marks a significant increase in representation for Dalits and women. The cabinet now includes seven Dalit ministers and four women ministers: Industries Minister S Keerthana, Animal Husbandry Minister S Kamali, Milk and Dairy Development Minister C Vijayalakshmi, and Social Welfare Minister K Jagadeeshwari.
