Chennai: Tamil Nadu got its first coalition government on Thursday as two Congress MLAs, S Rajesh Kumar from Killiyur in Kanyakumari district and P Viswanathan from Melur in Madurai district, were inducted into the state cabinet. Viswanathan was allocated the higher education portfolio, while Rajesh Kumar received the tourism department.
Congress Returns to Power After Decades
Speaking after being sworn in, Rajesh Kumar said, "The young blood of TVK and the experience of Congress would create a revolution in Tamil Nadu." AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, described the event as "a deeply emotional and historic day" for the Congress party in the state. "After 59 long years, Congress is once again part of the Tamil Nadu cabinet. It is a victory of perseverance, ideology and the unwavering commitment of lakhs of Congress cadre and grassroots workers across the state, who stood firmly with the party through every difficult phase," Chodankar posted on X.
The last time Congress held power in Tamil Nadu was in 1967 under the leadership of K Kamaraj. The party had demanded a share in power from the DMK during alliance talks before the assembly elections, but the DMK turned down the request. Following the poll debacle, Congress severed ties with the DMK and joined hands with the TVK, which promised cabinet berths.
Historic Day on Rajiv Gandhi's Death Anniversary
Incidentally, Congress's return to the cabinet occurred on the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Rajesh Kumar remarked, "I am not only witnessing Kamaraj rule after 1967, but I am part of it too." During his swearing-in, he raised slogans invoking Kamaraj, Rajiv Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, which drew a reprimand from Governor R Arlekar, who said, "That is not part of your oath."
Former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K V Thangkabalu noted that TVK leader Vijay fulfilled a promise that even the late chief minister M Karunanidhi did not. "In 2006, when DMK fell short of a majority, we demanded a share in power and Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) even promised it, but in the five-year period he didn't fulfil it. Vijay, however, has honoured the promise he made," Thangkabalu said.
