The south Indian state of Tamil Nadu has a coalition government with TVK party founder and Tamil film star C. Joseph Vijay sworn in as Chief Minister in a stunning result that threw out the traditional two Dravidian parties. Nine other ministers took an oath with Vijay on 10th May 2026. Vijay thanked the Congress, VCK, IUML and Left parties for supporting him to form the government. After assuming charge as the Chief Minister, Vijay signed approval to give 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers and set up a special force for women’s safety and also for anti-drug trafficking units across the state. Addressing people at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium after taking over as the Chief Minister, Vijay promised a new era of Tamil Nadu governance with “real secularism and social justice". He also made clear that he will be the only centre of power. Vijay made it a point to thank the youth for his TVK party’s victory and said the youth convinced their families to vote for him. 

Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) received unconditional support of the Indian National Congress (INC), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), CPI(M), and CPI. TVK won 108 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections. The alliance with support has 120 seats, paving the way for Vijay to become CM. The Congress party broke its long-term, over-two-decades-old alliance with the DMK to support TVK. The coalition has a majority in the 234-member assembly, marking a major shift in Tamil Nadu politics. Indian National Congress leader in Parliament’s lower house, Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi is among prominent personalities who attend Vijay's swearing-in. Congress leader Praveen Chakravarty; BJP leader and former Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan; and Vijay’s parents were among the prominent personalities who attended the gala event. It is noteworthy that Vijay’s wife Sangeetha and two children did not attend the swearing-in ceremony. 

Also absent were former CMs, DMK president M.K. Stalin and AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vijay and his party leaders. 

Outgoing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M. K. Stalin, who had earlier said he would give Vijay six months of a clear run to prove himself, reacted strongly to Vijay’s remarks that the previous government had left the state treasury empty with a debt burden of ₹10 lakh crore or approximately US dollars 109 billion. Meanwhile, film celebrities including Kamal Haasan and R. Madhavan congratulated actor-turned-politician Vijay, calling his rise as Chief Minister a “historic win”. The Tamil Nadu government named P. Senthil Kumar, IAS, as the Secretary-I to the Chief Minister and also named G. Laxmi Priya, IAS, as Secretary-II. Nine ministers were sworn in with Vijay in his state cabinet. ‘Bussy’ N. Anand, from T. Nagar constituency; Aadhav Arjuna, from Villivakkam; 

K.G. Arunraaj, from Tiruchengodu; K.A. Sengottaiyan, from Gobichettipalayam; P. Venkataramanan, from Mylapore; C.T.R. Nirmalkumar, from Thirupparankundram; A. Rajmohan, from Egmore; T.K. Prabhu, from Karaikudi; and S. Keerthana, from Sivakasi. Vijay has been elected from Perambur and Tiruchi East constituencies. Chennai will have five ministers, two from the western belt and three from southern Tamil Nadu. There is one representative each for women and Scheduled Castes (SC).