Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, May 11: In a major political development, the Congress party is poised to re-enter the Tamil Nadu state Cabinet after a gap of more than five decades, following the formation of a new government led by the C. Joseph Vijay under the banner of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The breakthrough comes after TVK agreed to allocate two ministerial positions to Congress as part of a post-election power-sharing arrangement, following a hung verdict in the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.
The new government was sworn in at a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, where Vijay took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Alongside him, nine other ministers were sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
In its maiden electoral outing, TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, but fell short of the majority mark of 118. This led Vijay to seek external support from Congress and other allies to form the government.
The Congress, which contested 28 seats as part of the Secular Progressive Alliance, managed to win only five seats. However, after internal discussions by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), the party leadership decided to extend support to TVK and join the ruling coalition.
The new government also enjoys backing from other parties including the CPI, CPI(M), IUML, and VCK, helping TVK comfortably secure a majority and form the administration.
The inclusion of Congress in the Cabinet marks a significant political shift in Tamil Nadu, as the party had been without ministerial representation in the state for over 55 years despite its long-standing role in coalition politics.
Historically, even during earlier alliance governments, Congress leaders were often excluded from Cabinet positions, a point of dissatisfaction among party cadres. In 2006, despite winning 34 seats as part of a coalition arrangement, the party did not receive ministerial representation in the DMK-led government.
AICC national observer for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar said discussions on ministerial appointments were still ongoing in coordination with the central leadership.
He added that there was no urgency regarding immediate swearing-in and that final decisions on Cabinet nominees would be taken in Delhi.
According to party sources, Melur MLA P. Viswanathan and Killiyoor MLA S. Rajeshkumar are among those being considered for ministerial posts. Rajeshkumar currently serves as the Congress Legislature Party leader, while Viswanathan gained attention during the election for winning from a general constituency as an SC candidate.
The development is being viewed as a significant realignment in Tamil Nadu politics, marking a new phase of coalition governance under TVK leadership.