Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK : The Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay witnessed a significant cabinet expansion on Thursday as 23 newly elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) were inducted as ministers in a formal swearing-in ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai.

The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The expansion marks one of the largest cabinet inductions in recent state political history and reflects a major consolidation effort by the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led coalition government.

The 23 new ministers, 21 belong to the ruling TVK, while two MLAs are from the coalition partner Congress. Their inclusion is being seen as a significant political development, as it marks the return of Congress representation in the Tamil Nadu state cabinet after nearly six decades, strengthening the coalition dynamics of the government.

The swearing-in ceremony began with senior MLA Srinath, a close associate of Chief Minister Vijay, taking the oath first. This was followed by other newly appointed ministers including Vijayalakshmi, Ranjithkumar, Parthiban, Kumar, Vinod, Rajeev, Rajkumar, Ramesh, Thennarasu, Kamali, Kantaraj, Madan Raja, Jagadeeshwari, Rajesh Kumar, Vijay Balaji, Lokesh Tamilselvan, Vishwanathan, Sampath Kumar, Sarathkumar, Maria Wilson, Vignesh, and Mohammad Parvez, who were inducted one after another.

Congress MLAs Rajesh Kumar and Vishwanathan joining the cabinet is considered politically significant, symbolizing deeper coalition integration within the state government. Analysts note that this marks Congress’s re-entry into the Tamil Nadu government after a gap of approximately 59 years.

The expanded cabinet also reflects efforts to ensure wider social representation. The new ministry reportedly includes representation from Scheduled Caste communities as well as the inclusion of seven women ministers, highlighting a push for diversity in governance.

Chief Minister Vijay had earlier formed his government after the 2026 Assembly elections, where the TVK emerged as the single largest party. With the support of allies including Congress and other regional parties, he took oath as Chief Minister on May 10 and initially inducted nine ministers.

Key coalition partners such as IUML and VCK, despite supporting the government formation, have not yet been allocated ministerial positions in this round of expansion. Political observers suggest that further cabinet reshuffles may follow in the coming stages to accommodate remaining alliance partners.

The latest expansion is seen as a strategic move to strengthen administrative efficiency, balance coalition representation, and ensure broader regional and social inclusion within the state’s governance structure.