Page 6 - Tamil Nadu

Tamil govt appoints two IAS officers as secretaries to CM Vijay

The Tamil Nadu government has appointed two IAS officers to serve as official secretaries to the new Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay, who assumed office on Sunday. A state government order said that Dr P Senthil Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as Additional Chief Secretary-Secretary I to the CM. Similarly, the order stated that G Lakshmi Priya, Secretary of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as Secretary II to the CM. Although Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam did not secure a majority on its own in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, its leader managed to secure support from the Congress, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and IUML, bringing together 120 MLAs and crossing the 118-seat majority mark to form the government. Vijay also introduced three public welfare schemes related to electricity, women's safety and drug eradication in the state.

Newly elected TVK ministers signal departure from traditional governance

Following the high-profile ceremony on Sunday, in which TVK chief C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, newly inducted cabinet ministers signaled a radical departure from traditional governance, promising a "white paper" audit of all state departments and a "zero-interference" policy in administration. Vijay's victory in his debut election is being heralded as a historic shift that upended nearly six decades of Dravidian political dominance. Speaking to PTI Videos after the swearing-in, Minister Aadhav Arjuna described the election result as a "victory for the people", specifically crediting the youth and women of Tamil Nadu. Arjuna emphasised that the new administration would be anchored in transparency, secularism, and social justice. "Our leader and all ministers will provide a transparent government. We will work for all minority brothers and sisters and prioritise development," he stated. When questioned about the transition from the previous DMK-le

Vijay's rise from 'Thalapathy' of cinema to Tamil Nadu's 'Muthalvan'

When Vijay repeatedly asserted that the 2026 Assembly polls was a fight between his party, the TVK and the ruling DMK, many did not buy that argument. Not only on this point, but on several other aspects, TVK and Vijay differed from "mainstream" political parties and their conventional ways to seek votes. Vijay neither introduced candidates in all the constituencies nor toured all segments or vigorously campaigned in the traditional sense by addressing rallies. But his messages were forwarded again and again in social media and by word of mouth by his fans and followers. He neither met the press nor gave interviews and directly communicated to people via social media. Unusually, he focused on teens, youngsters/children to persuade their parents to vote for TVK. When polling crossed 85 per cent, Vijay, addressed himself as "Vijay Mama" (Vijay uncle) specially thanked "Kutti, Nanba, Nanbees" (little children) for guiding their families. Also, he brilliantly combined elements of ...

Vijay to take oath as TN CM today, Guv approves appointment of 9 ministers

The event marks the first non-Dravidian party to form the government in the state breaking the traditional domination of AIADMK and the DMK

Tamil Nadu govt formation suspense deepens as VCK delays support call

The uncertainty over government formation in Tamil Nadu may clear by Saturday evening when VCK, a long time ally of the Left parties, is expected to spell out its stand on the crucial question of extending support to TVK to form government. The Vijay-led party faced serious allegations when NDA constituent AMMK accused it of alleged bid aimed at horse-trading. MLAs belonging to Congress, which has extended support to the TVK, have shifted to Hyderabad. After the Left parties declared unconditional support to TVK to form the government asserting it was to prevent BJP's backdoor entry through Governor and to respect the people's mandate, VCK founder chief Thol Thirumavalavan immediately went into a huddle with his party office-bearers through video-conferencing on Friday. While it was expected that the VCK would announce its stand on Saturday morning, the party has said the decision shall be made known by Thirumavalavan at 4 PM, setting the political circles abuzz over. In a return o

TN Cong MLAs shift to Hyderabad as TVK seeks numbers to form govt

With uncertainty continuing over government formation in Tamil Nadu, five Congress MLAs from the state were camping in Hyderabad on Saturday in an apparent move by the party to prevent any poaching attempts. Congress MLA P Viswanathan from Melur, who was formerly the AICC in-charge of party affairs in Telangana, was leading the group of five MLAs during their stay in Hyderabad, party sources said. The Congress has already declared its support for TVK, and Viswanathan is likely to become a minister if a TVK government is formed, the sources added. Actor Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which won 108 seats-10 short of a majority-had earlier reached out to the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), and VCK parties that had been allied with the DMK, seeking their support to form the government after emerging as the single largest party in its maiden Assembly election in Tamil Nadu, held on April 23. The VCK, a long-time ally of the Left parties, is expected to formally announce its support for the

AMMK chief files complaint against Vijay's TVK over 'forged' support letter

The AMMK has lodged a complaint with the Guindy police against the TVK, alleging the use of a "forged" support letter to stake claim for government formation, police said on Saturday.According to Guindy police, a petition has been received from AMMK General Secretary T T V Dhinakaran. However, officials confirmed that no First Information Report (FIR) has been registered in the matter as of Saturday morning. The development followed a high-drama midnight visit by Dhinakaran to the office of the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Guindy Range. Speaking to reporters, the AMMK chief accused the Vijay-led TVK of submitting a forged photocopy of a letter to Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, falsely claiming the support of AMMK's lone MLA-elect from Mannargudi, S Kamaraj. "The TVK, which claims to be a 'pure force,' has indulged in forgery and horse-trading," Dhinakaran stated. He alleged that the party attempted to bypass the anti-defection law by fabricating support. He also reveal

VCK to announce stance on backing TVK-led Tamil Nadu govt at 4 pm today

The VCK, a long-time ally of the Left parties, is expected to announce its support to the Vijay-led TVK on Saturday by following the stand of the communist parties. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalavan has already announced that his party's decision would align with the decision of the Left parties that have already extended their support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in government formation. TVK MLA-designate Marie Wilson has expressed confidence that his leader Vijay would become Chief Minister soon. Despite five days since the election results were announced and the party's euphoric victory in securing 108 seats, the TVK members' excitement continues to rise as they await the major announcement today. VCK leader Vanniarasu, a close aid of the party founder, gave clear indication that Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi was keen on getting a share in power, which the TVK is prepared to offer. TVK president Vijay, who visited senior leaders of the left partie

VCK's X handle suspended amid TVK attempting coalition govt in Tamil Nadu

This development comes after a purported post by the VCK in support of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to form a coalition government in the Tamil Nadu Assembly

Tamil Nadu class 12th results 2026 released with 95.20% pass percentage

The Tamil Nadu Directorate of Government Examination (TNDGE) has declared the Class 12 HSE plus 2 results today, May 8, 2026, with 95.20% pass percentage, on the official websites

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam reaches out to Left, VCK to shore up numbers

TVK sought support to prove majority in Tamil Nadu, while Congress leaders in Kerala openly jockeyed for the chief minister's post after poll results

Royal Enfield to set up ₹2,200 cr unit in Andhra, expand outside Tamil Nadu

The company will invest approximately Rs 2,200 cr in two phases to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Satyavedu in Tirupati district, close to Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border

TVK chief Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Guv second time amid bid to form govt

Following Congress' support to TVK, the number for Vijay rose from 108 to 113, which is still five short from the halfway mark in the 234 member Tamil Nadu assembly

Despite Cong support, Vijay-led TVK struggles to find more allies

Vijay's TVK falls short of majority in Tamil Nadu and struggles for allies, as political churn unfolds across Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry

Unincorporated sector added 7.5 million jobs in 2025: NSO survey

NSO's ASUSE 2025 survey showed Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal dominating in scale, while Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu led in productivity and value creation

Centre plans fresh push for PM SHRI rollout in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala

The Ministry of Education is making a fresh attempt to implement the PM SHRI scheme in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala amid efforts to widen rollout

Congress declares support to TVK, says alliance covers future polls as well

The Congress party, a long-time ally of the DMK, on Wednesday announced support to actor-politician Vijay's TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu and severed ties with the Dravidian major. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) have decided to extend its full support to the TVK to form the government, AICC Tamil Nadu incharge Girish Chodankar said in a statement citing TVK chief Vijay's request seeking support. He said: "Our support shall be conditional upon the TVK keeping out from this alliance any communal forces that do not believe in the Constitution of India. This alliance between the TVK and the Tamil Nadu Congress will strive to bring back Perunthalaivar Kamaraj's glory days of Tamil Nadu, with a strong commitment to Thanthai Periyar's social justice ideals and Dr BR Ambedkar's constitutional ideals in the years and decades to come. This alliance - founded on mutual respect, appropriate share, and shared responsibility between the two

Hung verdict in Tamil Nadu polls spark support talks for Vijay's TVK

In a changed political atmosphere in Tamil Nadu with no single political party having a simple majority to form the government post the Assembly election, opinion is divided among the allies led by the Dravidian majors in extending external support to Vijay-led TVK in government formation. Both the DMK and AIADMK are at unease as the Congress and also a section in the AIADMK express willingness to extend external support to Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagtam in forming the government. Post poll, the TVK's political prospects appear to impact alliances led by both the Dravidian majors in a different manner, triggering a speculation of a split. Leema Rose Martin, who won from Lalgudi on an AIADMK ticket, has stated that talks were underway on extending support to the TVK. Her son-in-law Aadhav Arjuna, who won from Villivakkam is TVK's general secretary. On May 5, former AIADMK minister O S Manian, emerging from his meeting with party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, stated

Congress likely to support Vijay's TVK for govt formation in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Congress has decided to support TVK leader Vijay in forming a secular government in the state, sources said. The decision to support the TVK was taken at an urgent meeting of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of Tamil Nadu Congress late on Tuesday night. AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu Affairs of the party Girish Chodankar had called the meeting of the Committee to decide on extending support to TVK. The meeting, the sources said, was convened on Zoom and senior members expressed their views in favour of supporting the actor-turned-politician. The PAC of Tamil Nadu Congress unanimously decided to support TVK leader Thiru Vijay to form a secular government in Tamil Nadu, the sources confirmed. Earlier during the day, the Congress claimed that Vijay had sought its support for government formation in the state and informed that its leadership has directed the state unit to take a final decision on the matter, keeping in view the state's sentiments. The party, which

Hung verdict in Tamil Nadu: Where can Vijay get support to form govt?

Vijay's TVK has emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats in Tamil Nadu, but falling short of the majority mark. The focus now shifts to alliances and post-poll negotiations