The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by C. Joseph Vijay expanded its cabinet on Thursday, marking a major political moment as the Congress party officially joined the Tamil Nadu government after nearly six decades.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at Lok Bhavan in Chennai, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to 23 newly inducted ministers. The expansion comes barely two weeks after Vijay formed the government following the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Among the biggest highlights of the cabinet reshuffle was the induction of two Congress MLAs — S. Rajesh Kumar and P. Vishwanathan — into the ministry. Congress leaders described the development as a “historic occasion” because the party is returning to power in Tamil Nadu after a gap of nearly 59 years.
Political analysts noted that the move represents a major shift in Tamil Nadu politics. Traditionally, both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rarely accommodated alliance partners in the state cabinet despite electoral alliances.
The expanded cabinet also reflects Vijay’s effort to strengthen coalition stability and broaden representation within the government. Reports said several first-time MLAs and regional representatives were included to ensure social and political balance.
The TVK-led alliance came to power after the 2026 Assembly elections resulted in a hung verdict, ending decades of dominance by the DMK-AIADMK political duopoly in Tamil Nadu. Vijay’s party emerged as the single largest formation and later secured support from Congress and several other parties to form the government.
The Congress decision to align with TVK also marked the end of its long-standing alliance with the DMK in Tamil Nadu politics. The development triggered sharp political reactions, especially from DMK leaders, who accused Congress of abandoning the secular alliance structure in the state.
During the ceremony, newly inducted ministers pledged to support Vijay’s governance vision focused on youth development, employment generation, anti-corruption measures, and administrative reforms.
Observers say the cabinet expansion is likely to further stabilise the TVK government while strengthening Congress’s relevance in Tamil Nadu after decades of declining influence in the state.
