LIVE | Muslim League warns Cong over Kerala CM delay; Vijay surprises leaders

Four parties from the DMK alliance are sustaining Vijay's government; while the arrangement is legal, it's politically explosive, and brand new in India.

The descriptive label most reporters have reached for is "coalition." It is not quite that. Of the parties supporting Vijay, only the Congress walked out of the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) led by the DMK.

The CPI, CPI(M) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) have formally stated they will continue inside the SPA. They will continue with the DMK on broader political questions. They are supporting from outside without any cabinet berth. The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has joined them in extending support.

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A day after the relegation of Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu (Tamil Nadu state anthem), traditionally rendered at the commencement of government events in Tamil Nadu, to the third position after Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana at Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay’s oath-taking ceremony on Sunday (May 10) sparked a row. New MLA and minister Aadhav Arjuna posted a lengthy explanation on social media.

He said the Tamil invocation song is the first to be played at events in Tamil Nadu, including government functions, while the national anthem is played at the end. “That is the usual practice; the appropriate practice. The new government in Tamil Nadu, formed under the leadership of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, has no differing opinion on this established practice,” he asserted.

He explained that since the swearing-in ceremony was presided over by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, the decision was taken by the latter’s team. “When we pressed the Governor’s side on this matter, it was conveyed that the Governor, as the responsible authority, must act according to the new circular from the Union government. Accordingly, in an unavoidable situation, the Tamil invocation song was played as the third song,” he added.

Arjuna claimed that in future, “this new practice will not be followed. Instead, as per the earlier practice, the Tamil invocation song will be played at the beginning of the event, and the national anthem at the end”.

Before the first session, CM Vijay signed orders for several key initiatives at the Secretariat.

Soon after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, C Joseph Vijay signed the first set of government orders linked to major promises made during the Assembly election campaign.

The three initiatives include expanding the state’s free electricity scheme to 200 units, launching a new all-women security force called “Singapen Sirappu Athiradi Padai”, and setting up dedicated anti-drug task forces across all districts.

Read more about the three orders here

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay arrived at the State Assembly for the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly session. The newly elected MLAs are set to take oath during the inaugural sitting of the 17th Assembly.

DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin also arrived at the Assembly. He was elected as the Leader of the DMK Legislature Party on Sunday.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, along with several newly elected legislators, reached the Assembly premises ahead of the proceedings.

Newly elected MLAs of the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will take the oath of office on Monday (May 11), a day after TVK chief C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister.

This will be the first time for Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, who piloted his TVK to securing 108 seats in the April 23 election, to assume his chair in the House.

TVK legislator from Sholavandan, M V Karuppaiah, who was appointed as Pro-Tem Speaker on Sunday, will administer the oath to the members.

The members began to arrive at the Assembly house for the oath-taking scheduled for 9.30 am with their election victory certificates