Edited by Nengcha Haokip, Kukiland Express Desk
Songpi: May 11, 2026
Tamil Nadu witnessed a historic political shift on Saturday as popular actor-turned-politician Vijay took oath as the state’s new Chief Minister, becoming the first Christian to hold the office. Vijay, founder-president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led his party to a decisive win in the 2026 Assembly elections, ending the dominance of traditional Dravidian parties. The swearing-in ceremony was held at Raj Bhavan in Chennai at 11:30 am, where Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vijay and his 34-member Council of Ministers.
The oath-taking ceremony saw massive crowds of TVK cadres and supporters gather outside Raj Bhavan, with tight security deployed across Chennai. Leaders from various political parties, film industry personalities, and civil society members attended the event. Vijay took the oath in Tamil, pledging to uphold the Constitution and work for social justice, inclusive growth, and welfare of all communities. His cabinet includes a mix of former legislators, activists, and first-time MLAs, with key portfolios like Home, Finance, and Education expected to be announced by Sunday evening.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay on X, writing, “Congratulations to Thiru Vijay on taking oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. I assure full support from the Centre for the development and progress of Tamil Nadu and the welfare of its people. Best wishes for a successful tenure.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several chief ministers also extended greetings. The PM’s message signals the Centre’s willingness to work with the new TVK government despite political differences.
Vijay, 51, entered politics full-time in 2024 after founding Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam with a focus on anti-corruption, education reform, and youth empowerment. His party’s symbol, the ‘Victory Torch’, and its campaign on clean governance drew large support from first-time voters and women. Political analysts say Vijay’s win marks a generational shift in Tamil Nadu politics, breaking the decades-long alternation between the DMK and AIADMK. TVK secured 134 seats in the 234-member Assembly, giving it a clear majority.
Bio Data: Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Vijay, was born on June 22, 1974, in Chennai to veteran film director S. A. Chandrasekhar and playback singer Shoba Chandrasekhar. He holds a degree in Visual Communications from Loyola College, Chennai. Before politics, he was one of Tamil cinema’s highest-paid actors with a career spanning over 30 years and 68 films. He has received multiple Tamil Nadu State Film Awards and an honorary doctorate from Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute.
Family: Vijay is a practicing Christian. He married Sangeetha Sornalingam, a Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu, on August 25, 1999. The couple has two children — son Jason Sanjay, who is pursuing filmmaking abroad, and daughter Divya Saasha. His father S. A. Chandrasekhar has been active in his political outreach, while his mother has largely stayed away from public life. Vijay has often spoken about his Christian faith and family values during campaigns, emphasizing communal harmony.
With the swearing-in complete, Chief Minister Vijay is expected to chair his first cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss the rollout of key poll promises, including monthly financial aid for women, education loan waivers, and job creation schemes. The Assembly session is likely to be convened later this month for the Governor’s address and budget presentation. All eyes are now on how the actor-turned-leader translates his mass appeal into governance for India’s southernmost state.
