NEW DELHI: Two weeks after taking oath as chief minister, Tamil Nadu's Vijay expanded his cabinet on Thursday, inducting 23 MLAs into the council of ministers. This marks a significant political development in the state, as the Congress party joins the cabinet after nearly six decades.
Newly Inducted Ministers
The new ministers include Salem South MLA Tamil Parthiban, Aranthangi MLA J Mohammed Farvas alias Parvez, Coimbatore North MLA V Sampath Kumar, Kancheepuram MLA R V Ranjith Kumar, Tambaram MLA D Sarath Kumar, Tirupur North MLA V Sathyabama, and R K Nagar MLA Marie Wilson.
Two Congress MLAs, Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan, were also inducted after receiving approval from party president Mallikarjun Kharge. This inclusion comes after Congress contested the Tamil Nadu assembly elections in alliance with the DMK, which was voted out after a single term.
Political Background
Vijay's party, TVK, launched in February 2024, emerged as the single-largest party but fell short of a majority by 10 seats in the 234-member assembly. Subsequently, the actor-turned-politician sought Congress' support, which was granted on the condition that no 'communal force' would be included in the alliance. Later, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Left parties also extended support to TVK, helping it cross the majority mark.
VCK and IUML Expected to Join Cabinet
After TVK publicly invited VCK and IUML to join the Tamil Nadu cabinet, both parties are expected to be inducted in the coming days. Reports indicate that each party may receive one ministerial berth. Earlier, TOI reported that VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan may not join the cabinet, though TVK was keen on accommodating him. Instead, VCK deputy general secretary Vanni Arasu, who won from Tindivanam, is expected to be inducted.
There is speculation that Thirumavalavan may contest from Trichy East, a constituency vacated by Vijay. VCK sources said TVK is urging Thirumavalavan to contest the byelection, though he has been hesitant about joining the cabinet.
The IUML has called an emergency meeting of its state committee in Chennai on Thursday under the leadership of its president K M Kader Mohideen to decide on joining the cabinet. 'IUML's national party political affairs committee, which met in Kerala on Wednesday, decided to join Vijay's cabinet and asked its Tamil Nadu unit to select the MLA to be inducted,' said a senior IUML leader.
Rebel AIADMK MLAs: A Point of Contention
Tamil Nadu minister Aadhav Arjuna declined to directly address whether rebel AIADMK MLAs would receive ministerial positions, stating that their support during the floor test was to uphold the people's mandate, not for postings.
VCK leader Thirumavalavan said TVK has informed them that the rebel AIADMK MLAs who backed the government during the trust vote will not be part of the ministry. 'Information has been passed on to us from TVK that there is no chance for the breakaway AIADMK faction to be accommodated in the cabinet,' he said.
The CPM stated it would reconsider its support to the Vijay-led government if it accommodates the rebel AIADMK faction. Addressing a press conference, CPM leader Shanmugam said the basis for extending support to TVK was to prevent President's Rule and the 'backdoor entry of BJP rule.' He emphasized that the arrangement was meant to ensure governance by a party elected by the people, and inducting AIADMK rebels would go against the mandate and the party's stand on clean governance.
'No party got a majority and TVK emerged as the single-largest party, so only they had the scope to form the government. With the idea of facilitating governance by a party elected by the people, the Left parties and VCK extended outside support to TVK, enabling it to form the government,' Shanmugam said.
'I think TVK will not go to that extent (of accommodating the AIADMK rebel group in the cabinet). In the event of TVK taking such a stand, the CPI(M) will reconsider its support to TVK,' he added.
