The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Cabinet, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, was expanded on Thursday (May 21, 2026), with the induction of 23 new members, including two Congress MLAs. The Congress is joining the government in Tamil Nadu after a gap of 59 years.
The members were sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Lok Bhavan, Chennai. Previously, 10 members, including the Chief Minister, took oath on May 10, 2026.
Here is all you need to know about the 23 newly inducted members of the TVK-led Cabinet.
A long-time friend of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, A. Srinath won the Thoothukudi Assembly segment, defeating former DMK Minister P. Geetha Jeevan. The 52-year-old started his film career along with Mr. Vijay in Naalaiya Theerpu in 1992. He has been allocated the Fisheries and Fisheries Development portfolios.
Hailing from Rasipuram in Namakkal district, S. Kamali won the Avinashi Assembly segment, defeating Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan. Ms. Kamali, a homemaker, holds a Master of Arts degree in English Literature and a Bachelor of Education degree. The 28-year-old is one of the youngest Ministers in Mr. Vijay-led Cabinet. She is the Minister for Animal Husbandry.
C. Vijayalakshmi is one of the frontline leaders of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. She was elected from the Kumarapalayam Assembly constituency in Namakkal district, defeating AIADMK strongman and former Minister P. Thangamani. Ms. Vijayalakshmi is self-employed and studied up to Class 12. She is the Minister for Milk and Dairy Development.
Elected from the Kancheepuram Assembly constituency, R.V. Ranjithkumar holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Tamil Nadu Open University. The 50-year-old is involved in farming, business, and real estate. He has been allotted the Forests portfolio.
R. Vinoth was elected from the Kumbakonam Assembly segment in Thanjavur district. The 32-year-old is involved in trading and had discontinued his Bachelor of Engineering degree. He is the Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Hailing from Ramanathapuram, 33-year-old V.K. Rajeev was elected from the Thiruvadanai Assembly constituency. He was the sole MLA of the party from Ramanathapuram district.
A doctor by profession, he completed his MBBS from Raja Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, in 2016.
He is the Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
B. Rajkumar was elected from the Cuddalore Assembly segment. The 46-year-old is involved in real estate and business and holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Muthiah Polytechnic in Chidambaram. He is the Minister for Housing and Urban Development.
The 52-year-old V. Gandhiraj was elected from the Arakkonam Assembly segment, an AIADMK stronghold in recent years. Mr. Gandhiraj is a civil contractor and discontinued his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Madras. He has been allocated the Co-operation portfolio.
The 41-year-old P. Mathan Raja was elected from the Ottapidaram Assembly segment in Thoothukudi district. He is into business and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering. He is the MSME Minister.
Elected from the Rajapalayam Assembly segment in Virudhunagar district, 40-year-old K. Jegadeeshwari holds a Bachelor of Science degree. She is the Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment.
A senior leader of the Congress party, S. Rajesh Kumar was elected from the Killiyoor Assembly segment in Kanniyakumari district. He won the seat as a Congress nominee for the third consecutive term.
Hailing from a family of politicians, the 51-year-old leader is the Congress Legislature Party leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He completed his Bachelor of Law degree from V.V. Puram College of Law, Bangalore University and Master of Arts degree from Vinayaka Missions University. He holds the Tourism and Tourism Development Corporation portfolios.
Thirty-nine-year-old M. Vijay Balaji was elected from the Erode East Assembly segment. This constituency faced two by-elections during the previous tenure. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is involved in business.
He is the Minister for Handlooms, Textiles, and Khadi.
D. Lokesh Tamilselvan, son of AIADMK veteran and former Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal, was elected from the Rasipuram Assembly segment in Namakkal district, defeating former DMK Minister M. Mathivendhan.
Before joining the TVK earlier this year, he was with the AIADMK. Mr. Tamilselvan contested from the Nilgiris Parliamentary constituency on an AIADMK ticket in the 2024 Lok Sabha election and finished third. His father, Mr. Dhanapal, was elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly seven times and also served as a Minister in the Cabinet led by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.
Mr. Tamilselvan completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Loyola College in Chennai and Master of Business Administration in Marketing Management and Personnel Management from the Indian Institute of Planning and Management in New Delhi.
He is the Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration.
Hailing from Salem district, A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban was associated with the Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. He was elected from the Salem South Assembly segment. As the Salem Central district secretary of the party, he played an instrumental role in the party’s considerable success in in Salem district.
The 50-year-old is into electronics business. He completed his education up to Class 12 in Salem.
He is the Transport Minister.
Elected from the Srirangam Assembly segment in Tiruchi district, 31-year-old S. Ramesh is the State coordinator of the media wing of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and is known for being an articulate speaker. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree.
He is the Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.
Hailing from Thazhambur in Chengalpattu district, P. Viswanathan was elected from the Melur Assembly segment in Madurai district. He was the final candidate announced by the Congress party in the run-up to the 2026 Assembly election.
A former banker, Mr. Viswanathan was the only Scheduled Caste candidate to win from a general constituency in the 2026 election. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Madras. Mr. Viswanathan previously served as a legislator representing the Kancheepuram Lok Sabha constituency between 2009 and 2014.
He is the Minister for Higher Education.
Elected from the Velachery Assembly segment, 60-year-old R. Kumar represents one of the most thickly populated Assembly constituencies in Chennai. Mr. Kumar is a businessman. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Madras and recently completed a Business Leadership Programme at IIM Bangalore.
He is the Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology, and Digital Services.
K. Thennarasu was elected from the Sriperumbudur Assembly segment in Kancheepuram district. He defeated Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai in the 2026 election. Mr. Thennarasu studied up to Class 10 and is involved in trading as a commission agent.
He has been allocated the portfolios of Non-Resident Tamils Welfare, Refugees, and Evacuees.
V. Sampathkumar, 47, was elected from the Coimbatore North Assembly segment, defeating BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan. He completed Master of Business Administration degree through distance education from Annamalai University and is involved in business. He is the Minister for Backward Classes Welfare.
J. Mohamed Farvas was elected from the Aranthangi Assembly segment in Pudukkottai district. The 31-year-old is into the printing business and holds a BA LLB (Hons.) degree from a National Law School. He also served as a councillor in the Pudukkottai Corporation. He is the Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development.
Thirty-four-year-old D. Sarathkumar was elected from the Tambaram Assembly segment in Chengalpattu district. He holds a BBA degree from M.M. Jain College in Meenambakkam and works as a civil contractor. He has been allotted the Human Resources Management and Ex-Servicemen Welfare portfolios.
Part of a leading private educational institution in Chennai, N. Marie Wilson was elected from the Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly segment in Chennai. The 46-year-old holds a Doctorate in Management Science from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad. He has been allocated the Finance portfolio, which was previously allotted to K.A. Sengottaiyan.
K. Vignesh, 38, was elected from the Kinathukadavu Assembly segment in Coimbatore district, a traditional stronghold of the AIADMK. Mr. Vignesh is involved in business and holds a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from a private college. He is the Minister for Prohibition and Excise.
Published - May 21, 2026 11:48 am IST
Tamil Nadu / state politics / Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
Source: The Hindu - India News
