LIVE! 17th TN Assembly convenes tomorrow; Udhayanidhi to be Leader of Opposition
Vijay sets in motion first non-DMK, non-AIADMK leadership since 1967; newly elected TVK ministers signal radical departure from traditional governance
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay took oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at the sprawling Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai today (May 10).
Vijay recommended a list of nine individuals for appointment as ministers in the state cabinet. The list includes N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, Dr KG Arunraj, KA Sengottaiyan, P Venkataramanan, R Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan, Dr TK Prabhu, and Selvi S Keerthana.
The government has been formed after extensive discussions with smaller parties, which were intent on keeping both the BJP and AIADMK out of the state’s power structure.
Once sworn in, 51-year-old C Joseph Vijay will become the first leader outside the DMK and AIADMK camps to head the Tamil Nadu government since 1967.
Also read | How Vijay glided effortlessly from Kodambakkam to Fort St George
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is attending the swearing-in ceremony.
Power transition in Tamil Nadu
This development follows Vijay’s meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor RV Arlekar at Lok Bhavan on Saturday after his party secured the majority required to form the government.
Capping days of hectic parleying to shore up numbers to usher in the first non-DMK, non-AIADMDK government in nearly 70 years, Vijay finally managed to secure the support of four MLAs of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Saturday.
He then headed to the Lok Bhavan for his fourth meeting with Governor Arlekar in as many days to discuss government formation, before the latter appointed Vijay as CM and invited him to form ministry.
The VCK and IUML extended “unconditional support,” to Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. However, DMK's allies, including the VCK, have made it clear that they continue to be part of the Dravidian party-led alliance.
VCK support changes equation
The suspense over government formation ended when the Thol Thirumavalavan-led VCK, which has two seats, finally extended support after keeping the TVK on tenterhooks and the political circles abuzz over its stand over the last two days.
VCK, a long-time ally of the Left parties who had extended their support to Vijay on Friday, had earlier announced its decision would be in sync with their stand. Shortly after VCK's decision to back Vijay, another DMK ally, the IUML also extended support to TVK. IUML has two MLAs.
Also read | Understanding the Vijay phenomenon in Tamil Nadu politics
With the two small parties' support, the numbers in favour of TVK rose to 120, just two more than the simple majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Vijay, who has won from two segments, Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli East, has to resign from one of them, bringing down the party's strength to 107. The number of MLAs from parties supporting the TVK-- Congress (5) and the CPI, CPI (M), VCK and IUML with two MLAs each, stands at 13.
The Congress has ended its alliance with DMK but the others have said they continue in the Dravidian-party lead alliance.
Scroll below for Live updates.
Live Updates
- 10 May 2026 8:07 AM IST
TVK MLA-elect S Keerthana calls Vijay’s swearing-in a 'big day' for Tamil Nadu
TVK MLA-elect from the Sivakasi constituency, S Keerthana, said that it was a big day for Tamil Nadu and its people, adding that it was a moment everyone had been waiting for.
- 10 May 2026 8:05 AM IST
Vijay’s father SA Chandrasekhar to attend CM swearing-in, expresses joy
SA Chandrasekhar, father of TVK chief and Chief Minister-designate Vijay, said that he was very happy and that the family would be attending the swearing-in ceremony. He added that he looked forward to his son taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
- 10 May 2026 7:53 AM IST
Centre influenced Governor, claims TN Congress; says parties united to uphold mandate
Tamil Nadu Congress in-charge Girish Chodankar alleged that if the emerging government had been pro-BJP or aligned with the NDA, such extensive efforts would not have been necessary. He claimed that the Governor was acting under pressure from the Centre, which, according to him, attempted to influence the mandate given by the people of Tamil Nadu.
- 10 May 2026 7:40 AM IST
Security stepped up at Chennai stadium ahead of Vijay’s swearing-in as Tamil Nadu CM
Security has been heightened outside the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, where TVK chief Vijay is scheduled to take oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu today.
- 10 May 2026 7:38 AM IST
Aadhav Arjuna arrives at Vijay’s residence ahead of Tamil Nadu CM swearing-in
TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna arrived at party chief Vijay’s residence ahead of his swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu today.
- 10 May 2026 7:20 AM IST
KA Sengottaiyan arrives at Vijay’s residence ahead of swearing-in ceremony
TVK leader and MLA-elect KA Sengottaiyan arrived at party chief Vijay’s residence ahead of his swearing-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
- 10 May 2026 7:18 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi arrives at Delhi airport en route to Chennai for Vijay’s swearing-in
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi arrived at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport as he travelled to Tamil Nadu. He is set to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister-designate Vijay in Chennai later today.
- 10 May 2026 7:12 AM IST
Rahul Gandhi to attend Vijay's swearing-in as Tamil Nadu CM
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is likely to attend the swearing-in of new Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in Chennai on Sunday.
Sources told news agency PTI that Rahul will attend the oath-taking ceremony, in which some other opposition leaders are also expected to be present.
Tamil Nadu Governor RV Arlekar on Saturday appointed popular actor and TVK chief Vijay as the chief minister. He will take the oath at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai at 10 am on Sunday.
Congress leader Manickam Tagore earlier congratulated Vijay on being appointed the chief minister, and said the state is looking forward to change and hope. “People expect an inclusive Tamil Nadu founded on social justice, equality, development and humane governance. We believe that under your leadership, a people-centric, transparent, well-governed administration will be established,” Tagore said.
- 10 May 2026 7:11 AM IST
TMC names Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as LoP in West Bengal Assembly
The TMC on Saturday appointed Ballygunge MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
In a statement, the party announced that Dhanekhali MLA Asima Patra and Chowrangee legislator Nayna Bandyopadhyay would serve as deputy leaders of the opposition.
Kolkata Port MLA Firhad Hakim was appointed chief whip in the assembly. Hakim is also the mayor of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
The party said the newly appointed leaders would work "with commitment for the interest of the people of Bengal".
BJP swept the assembly elections, winning 207 seats in the 294-member House and forming the government in the state for the first time. The TMC won 80 seats in the elections. Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as chief minister earlier in the day.
- 10 May 2026 7:09 AM IST
Prez Murmu appoints Rangasamy as Puducherry CM
President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday appointed N Rangasamy as the chief minister of Puducherry, according to a government notification.
"The President is pleased to appoint N Rangasamy as the chief minister of the union territory of Puducherry with effect from the date he is sworn in," the notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs said.
Following the notification, Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan has invited Rangasamy to form the government, official sources said.
Rangasamy would be sworn in as chief minister on May 13, sources added.
Rangasamy is set to assume office as chief minister for a fifth term after the AINRC-led NDA secured a comfortable victory in the union territory election held on April 9. The results were declared on May 4.
The All India NR Congress (AINRC) emerged victorious in 12 of the 16 seats it contested, and the BJP won four of the 10 seats it fought. Other NDA constituents, the AIADMK and the Latchia Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) won one seat each, taking the alliance's tally to 18 in the 30-member House. Besides, there would be three nominated members.
The opposition DMK won five seats and the Congress one. The fledgling TVK won two seats.
