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IUML’s AM Shahjahan, VCK’s Vanni Arasu sworn in as ministers in Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s cabinet
Two MLAs were inducted into the Tamil Nadu Cabinet after Governor RN Ravi approved a recommendation made by CM Vijay.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) lawmakers AM Shahjahan and Vanni Arasu were inducted into Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay's council of ministers on Friday, taking its strength to 35.
It was the second expansion of Vijay's government in two days. On Thursday, two Congress legislators were among 23 ministers inducted into the council, making the party part of the government in the southern state for the first time in 59 years. The Congress lost power in Tamil Nadu in 1967.
Actor-turned politician Vijay was sworn in with nine ministers on May 10. Congress, which has five lawmakers in the Tamil Nadu assembly, the Left parties, IUML, and the VCK backed his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) after it emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats but fell short of a majority in the 234-member assembly, forming the first coalition government in what is now Tamil Nadu since 1952.
TVK’s was the most impressive debut in Tamil Nadu since actor-filmmaker MG Ramachandran's entry into politics in 1977. Vijay became the first non-Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and non-All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief minister since 1967.
On Thursday, top IUML leaders called on Vijay. TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna on Wednesday said that their party invited the Congress, the IUML, and the VCK, which won two seats each, to join the council of ministers.
IULM chief K M Khader Mohideen maintained on Thursday that they had no demands and offered unconditional support. "All we said was that a good government should be formed... we also said in the past that the Dravidian model [DMK] government has done a lot of good to Tamil Nadu through its welfare schemes,” he said.
The IUML and VCK joined the government after two days of negotiations following the Left parties' announcement of outside support to the TVK. The portfolio allocation for IUML and VCK ministers was expected later on Friday.
Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, the state song, was played after the national song Vande Mataram and the national anthem on Friday ahead of the swearing-in of the two ministers. The same sequence was followed at the induction ceremony of 23 ministers on Thursday. The opposition DMK targeted the TVK over this, asking what happened to the party's guarantee of playing Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu first.
The state song was also played last during Vijay's swearing-in ceremony on May 10. The governor’s office maintained that the sequence was as per the central government guidelines.
On Thursday, Arjuna said the TVK disagreed with the state song being played third. He backed the traditional practice of the song being played first at government functions in Tamil Nadu.
DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said on Thursday accused the TVK of failing again to protect Tamil rights.
Tamil Nadu Cabinet expansion
Just a day earlier, the chief minister carried out a wider reshuffle and portfolio allocation exercise, bringing several Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) MLAs into key departments. Two Congress MLAs – S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan – also took oath as ministers.
TVK's B Rajkumar was assigned the housing and urban development portfolio, while Vijay Tamilan Parthiban A took charge as transport minister.
RV Ranjithkumar was given the forests department, V Sampath Kumar was entrusted with the backward classes welfare portfolio, and V Gandhiraj was appointed co-operation minister.
Senior TVK leader and former Tamil Nadu minister KA Sengottaiyan was allotted the revenue department. His responsibilities include revenue administration, district revenue establishment, deputy collectors, disaster management, boodhan, gramadhan, and legislative assembly affairs.
Meanwhile, TVK MLA N Marie Wilson, who represents Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar, was assigned the finance portfolio.
AI department among key changes
Following the formation of the new TVK-led government, portfolios were allocated to 23 ministers. The state also became the second in the country after Kerala to create a dedicated Artificial Intelligence department at the Cabinet level.
CM Vijay retained several crucial portfolios, including home, police, municipal administration, and urban and water supply. He has also kept charge of special initiatives, poverty alleviation, and rural indebtedness.
In another significant change, the women welfare portfolio was shifted from the Chief Minister’s Office to K Jegadeshwari, who has now been designated Minister for social welfare and women empowerment.
