Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday (May 21, 2026) expanded his Cabinet by inducting 23 more legislators as Ministers, including two from the Congress. Congress party’s S. Rajesh Kumar, representing Killiyoor, and P. Viswanathan, who won from Melur segment, took oath as Ministers.
Also Read: Meet the new Ministers in Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s expanded Cabinet
After being out of power for 59 years in Tamil Nadu, the Congress joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government headed by CM Vijay on Thursday, ushering in a coalition era in the Dravidian State. The party, which won five Assembly seats in the alliance-led by the DMK, was the first to rush to Mr. Vijay’s aid as he fell short of the majority mark.
Also Read: The emerging Rahul Gandhi-Vijay political partnership
A day earlier, the TVK had openly invited the VCK and the IUML to join the Cabinet. “We invite VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan to be part of the Council of Ministers. This is the wish of the Chief Minister as well. Similarly, the IUML should also join the Council of Ministers. We have conveyed our invitation to the IUML leaders,” Minister for Public Works and Sports Development Aadhav Arjuna had told reporters in Chennai on May 20.
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Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko, on Thursday, strongly opposed the inclusion of ‘Vande Mataram’ song in Tamil Nadu government functions.
In a statement, Vaiko said, “During events organised by the Governor, ‘Vande Mataram’ is being repeatedly brought in and imposed everywhere. We have already stated that in any event organised by the Tamil Nadu government, no place should be given to ‘Vande Mataram.’
He asserted that ‘Tamil Thai Vazhthu’ should be sung first at State government events, followed by the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana.’ — ANI
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DMK senior leader R.S. Bharathi, on Thursday, levelled sharp criticism against the Tamil Nadu government after ‘Vande Mataram’ song was played as the first rendition during the swearing-in of the extended Cabinet. The opposition had earlier raised the issue when the national song was accorded priority during Vijay’s swearing-in on May 10.
Bharathi alleged that the current administration is showing a disregard for the Tamil language and its cultural protocols.
Speaking to ANI, the DMK leader claimed that the opposition parties had raised valid concerns, but the government had repeatedly ignored them. He connected the current row to the party’s long-standing ideological opposition to the imposition of Hindi — ANI
K.A. Sengottaiyan, a senior leader who was earlier the Finance Minister and has now been redesignated as Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management. The Finance portfolio has been reassigned to newly-inducted Minister N. Marie Wilson — N. Sai Charan
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.
CM Vijay’s Cabinet is likely to undergo one more round of expansion, as the TVK has extended an open invitation to the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), both of which contested as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) and have two MLAs each.
Tamil Nadu's Cabinet expands to 33 with Congress joining after 59 years, marking the state's first coalition government.
Nearly two weeks after forming government, the TVK Cabinet expansion took place on Thursday (May 21) with the inclusion of 23 new Ministers, including two Congress MLAs, in the Vijay-led Ministry.
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The 38-year-old K. Vignesh was elected from 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. — N. Sai Charan
The 47-year-old V. Sampathkumar 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. - N. Sai Charan
Elected from the Velachery Assembly segment, the 60-year-old R. Kumar represents one of the most thickly populated Assembly constituencies in Chennai. Mr. Kumar is a landlord and businessman. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Madras and recently completed a Business Leadership Programme at IIM Bangalore. - N. Sai Charan.
Hailing from Thazhambur in Chengalpattu district, P. Viswanathan was elected from Melur Assembly segment in Madurai district. He was the last candidate announced by the Congress party in the run-up to the 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 earlier served as a legislator representing the Kancheepuram Lok Sabha constituency between 2009 and 2014. — N. Sai Charan
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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 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. - N. Sai Charan
39-year-old M. Vijay Balaji, elected from the Erode East Assembly segment, takes oath as Minister in T.N. government. This constituency faced two by-elections during the last tenure. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is involved in business.- N. Sai Charan.
S. Rajesh Kumar, a senior leader of the Congress party and elected from the Killiyoor Assembly segment in Kanniyakumari district takes oath as Minister in T.N. Cabinet. He won the Assembly segment 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.- N. Sai Charan.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore says, “In every state we share power but Tamil Nadu was the only State where we worked for others’ victories while remaining outside the government after the elections. The Cabinet expansion will help because being in power always helps us expand our influence and regain lost ground. We are very hopeful that the Congress party, our ministers, and party cadres will work towards regaining the people’s trust in Tamil Nadu.”
P. Mathanraja, elected from the Ottapidaram Assembly segment in Thoothukudi district, takes oath as Minister. He is into business and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering. - N. Sai Charan
B. Rajkumar, elected from the Cuddalore Assembly segment, takes oath as Minister. The 46-year-old is involved in real estate and business and holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Muthiah Polytechnic in Chidambaram.- N. Sai Charan
R.V. Ranjithkumar, elected from the Kancheepuram Assembly constituency, takes oath as Minister in T.N. Cabinet. Mr. Ranjithkumar holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tamil Nadu Open University. The 50-year-old is involved in farming, business and real estate.
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C. Vijayalakshmi, one of the frontline leaders of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, takes oath as Minster. 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.- N. Sai Charan
S. Kamali, 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. - N. Sai Charan.
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. — N. Sai Charan
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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay arrives at Lok Bhavan to attend the swearing in ceremony of his expanded cabinet.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will administer the oath of office and secrecy to 23 new Ministers. — N. Sai Charan
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) said party president Mallikarjun Kharge had approved the induction of Congress Legislature Party leader S. Rajesh Kumar (Killiyoor) and P. Viswanathan (Melur) into the Council of Ministers. Mr. Kumar is likely to be allocated Tourism portfolio and Mr. Viswanathan Higher Education.
Congratulating both the Congress MLAs over the phone, Mr. Vijay said the TVK and Congress would sail together for the welfare of the people — The Hindu Bureau
Actor A. Srinath, TVK MLA from Thoothukudi constituency, to take oath as a Minister of Tamil Nadu government, as Vijay is set to expand his Cabinet on Thursday (May 21, 2026).
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After being out of power for 59 years in Tamil Nadu, the Congress is poised to join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday (May 21, 2026), ushering in a coalition era in the Dravidian State.
The party, which won five Assembly seats in the alliance led by the DMK, was the first to rush to Mr. Vijay’s aid as he fell short of the majority mark.
TVK invites VCK and IUML to join Vijay's Cabinet, emphasizing the importance of including secular parties in governance.
Published - May 21, 2026 09:34 am IST
Live news / Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 / Tamil Nadu / Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam / Indian National Congress
Source: The Hindu - India News
