Chennai: C Joseph Vijay was sworn-in as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Sunday in a colourful ceremony attended by top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, ushering in the first non-DMK, non-AIADMK government in the southern state in 60 years with promise of transparent governance and an assertion that he will be the sole power centre in the state.
In his maiden address at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here after taking over as the Chief Minister, Vijay said a new era of a regime committed to “real secularism and social justice” commenced now.
He asserted that there will not be any power centres other than him and emphasised that he will be the only centre of power, in an apparent dig at the previous DMK, AIADMK regimes.
Vijay’s cabinet was a mix of young and the experienced, with the 51 year-old actor-turned-politician’s core team finding place in his maiden ministry.
Soon after taking over, CM Vijay signed three files to implement poll-time promises, including 200 units of free power to domestic consumers.
In his address, Vijay said he was not from any royal lineage and that people welcomed and accepted him. He said he will not deceive people with false promises.
A fresh, new governance has started and a new era of real, secular, social justice starts now, he added.
His cabinet colleagues– Adhav Arjuna and KR Arunraj, promised that the TVK will deliver transparent governance.
Vijay’s parents– S A Chandrasekhar and Shobha, top actor Trisha and a whole lot of invitees attended the ceremony at the sprawling Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.
Former CMs, DMK president M K Stalin and AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, Vijay’s wife Sangeetha and two children were conspicuous by their absence.
The CM’s first signatures on government files were to provide 200 units free electricity for domestic consumers, creating a special force for women’s safety.
He thanked the Congress, VCK, IUML and Left parties for extending support to his party to form the government. Vijay specially thanked the children and said it was due to them that the TVK won as they persuaded their families to vote for his party.
Earlier, Governor RV Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Vijay and nine of his cabinet members, who included Dravidian veteran K A Sengottaiyan and young faces–Dr TK Prabhu and S Keerthana.
Amid continuous “whistling” by TVK cadres, Vijay took oath as the chief minister in the name of God and the ministers too followed suit, unlike most in the outgoing DMK regime.
TVK leaders Aadhav Arjuna, N Anand, R Nirmal Kumar, KG Arunraj and Sengottaiyan– all considered members of Vijay’s inner team, took oath as ministers.
Both Arjuna and Arunraj said that the TVK will provide transparent governance.
“It’s a people’s victory, particularly Tamil Nadu women and youth victory…Definitely our leader and our ministers will give transparency in government, will work for all,” he told reporters. The TVK government will focus on development and upholding social justice and secularism.
He equated the DMK, which led the previous government to “corruption”. “You can see the transparency,” in the TVK regime, he added.
Arunraj hailed the “solid mandate” given by the people to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.
“We will deliver transparent, corruption-free governance. You will see the difference,” he told PTI Videos.
Earlier, in a departure from his trademark white shirt and beige/khaki trousers, Vijay on Sunday was decked for the occasion. He was clad in a crisp white shirt, dark pants and topped them with a blazer. With most of his cabinet colleagues also wearing shirts and trousers, the dress code of the TVK cabinet also seemed to be a departure from the usual, as white dhoti and white shirt has been the norm largely for men in Tamil Nadu politics.
For former CMs K Kamaraj, CN Annadurai, M Karunanidhi, MG Ramachandran (all late leaders), besides Edappadi K Palaniswami, O Panneerselvam and M K Stalin, dhoti and spotless white shirt were their formal wear for work.
At the venue, Vijay’s parents were visibly overjoyed and emotional in witnessing their son scale a political peak in his maiden elections, which he won two years after floating the TVK.
The Sunday swearing-in ushered in the first non-DMK, non-AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu, the Dravidian heartland in about 60 years, and came amidst a euphoric atmosphere with Vijay fans and supporters relishing the occasion.
Vijay wrapped up the hour-long event by clicking a selfie with those on the stage, including Rahul Gandhi and his cabinet colleagues.
