Vijay introduced himself as a “common man” during his first speech after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in Chennai on Saturday. The actor-turned-politician said people supported him because he did not come from a political dynasty or royal family background.
The 51-year-old leader said he would remain honest with the public and avoid making unrealistic promises. He also assured people that his government would focus on “an era of real, secular, social justice”. Vijay urged citizens to give him enough time to prove his performance as chief minister and said he wanted to build trust through governance and accountability.
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Says He Will Be the Only Power Centre
In a strong political message after taking office, Vijay made it clear that his government would function under his direct leadership. “There will be no power centre other than me. I will be the only centre of power,” the new chief minister said while addressing supporters and party members. Vijay also accepted being addressed as “Mama” and “Thambi”, signalling his close connection with ordinary people. His remarks were seen as an attempt to assure the public that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government would not operate under pressure from alliance partners.
PM Modi Congratulates Tamil Nadu CM Vijay
Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay after the swearing-in ceremony and assured continued cooperation between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government for the welfare of the people. The new chief minister had earlier declared assets worth Rs 624 crore in his election affidavit. According to the details, he holds Rs 213 crore in savings accounts and around Rs 100 crore in fixed deposits across different banks. Vijay also said his government may release a white paper on Tamil Nadu’s financial condition to ensure transparency before implementing future policies.
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Announces First Major Decisions
Soon after assuming office, Vijay signed important government files announcing 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers and the formation of a special force dedicated to women’s safety. These decisions are being seen as the first major welfare and governance measures of the new administration.
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Picks Mix of Young and Senior Leaders in Cabinet
Vijay’s first cabinet includes a combination of experienced politicians and younger faces from the TVK leadership team. Senior leader KA Sengottaiyan found a place in the ministry along with younger leaders such as Dr TK Prabhu and S Keerthana.
Several TVK leaders, including Aadhav Arjuna, N Anand, R Nirmal Kumar, and KG Arunraj, also took oath as ministers. Interestingly, no member from Indian National Congress, which was the first party to support TVK during government formation talks, was included in the new Tamil Nadu cabinet.