Vande Mataram row in Tamil Nadu: DMK slams Vijay govt over swearing-in order
Synopsis
A song-order dispute at a Cabinet swearing-in has become Tamil Nadu's sharpest cultural flashpoint in weeks. The DMK is framing Vande Mataram's placement ahead of Tamil Thai Vazhthu not as a protocol slip but as evidence of BJP influence over the new Vijay government — invoking the state's anti-Hindi agitation legacy to raise the political stakes.
Key Takeaways
Vande Mataram was played before Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the swearing-in of 23 ministers in CM C.
Joseph Vijay's Cabinet on 21 May .
The DMK accused the Vijay government of practising 'BJP politics' and sidelining Tamil traditions.
DMK spokesperson T.K.S.
Elangovan alleged the government was functioning under pressure from Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar .
A similar controversy had erupted at CM Vijay's own swearing-in on 10 May ; TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna had then called the sequence 'inappropriate'.
The DMK invoked Tamil Nadu's anti-Hindi agitation history to underscore the cultural sensitivity of the protocol dispute.
A fresh political storm erupted in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, 21 May after Vande Mataram was played ahead of the Tamil invocation song Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the swearing-in ceremony of 23 newly inducted ministers into Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's Cabinet. The sequence reignited a long-running debate over the primacy of Tamil cultural traditions at official state functions.
What Triggered the Controversy
The oath-taking ceremony's song order — Vande Mataram before Tamil Thai Vazhthu — broke with what the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) describes as Tamil Nadu's established convention: beginning official functions with Tamil Thai Vazhthu and concluding with the national anthem. The DMK's IT wing publicly called out the Vijay government on social media platform X, accusing it of abandoning Tamil tradition.
'Do not attempt to practise BJP politics in Tamil Nadu,' the DMK IT wing's post read, alleging that Tamil cultural identity was being deliberately sidelined.
DMK Leaders Escalate Criticism
DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan went further, alleging that the state government was operating under pressure from Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, whom he described as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appointee. 'They have no control. They are under pressure from the Governor, who is a BJP man. They are disrespecting Tamil and established practices in Tamil Nadu,' Elangovan said.
Senior DMK leader R.S. Bharathi also criticised the decision, framing it as a disregard for Tamil identity. Bharathi invoked the state's decades-long resistance to Hindi imposition and the anti-Hindi agitations that have historically defined Tamil Nadu's political consciousness, arguing the state had consistently defended its linguistic and cultural identity.
A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident
This is not the first time the issue has surfaced under the current administration. A near-identical controversy arose during Chief Minister Vijay's own swearing-in ceremony on 10 May, when Tamil Thai Vazhthu was played after both Vande Mataram and the national anthem — a sequence critics deemed out of order. At the time, TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna acknowledged the sequence was 'inappropriate' and indicated the government intended to restore the earlier protocol at future state events. Thursday's ceremony suggests that commitment has yet to be fulfilled.
The Broader Political Context
The row arrives at a sensitive moment for the Vijay-led government, which is still consolidating its position after its electoral debut. The DMK's framing — linking the protocol lapse to BJP influence via the Governor — is a calculated move to pressure the new administration on cultural and constitutional grounds. Tamil Nadu's politics have long been shaped by resistance to perceived central imposition, making song-order disputes far more charged here than in most other states.
With the DMK maintaining pressure and the government yet to issue a formal clarification, the protocol question is likely to shadow future official ceremonies until a clear, written order is issued.
Point of View
It forces the Vijay government to either publicly defy the Raj Bhavan or appear culturally compliant — neither is comfortable. What mainstream coverage underplays is that this is the second such incident in under two weeks, suggesting either administrative inertia or a deliberate choice. For a government whose electoral identity was built on Tamil pride, repeated failures on a symbolic but highly legible issue like Tamil Thai Vazhthu could erode its base faster than any policy misstep. The real question is whether Vijay's administration will issue a written protocol order — or continue to manage each controversy with verbal assurances that don't hold.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vande Mataram controversy in Tamil Nadu's swearing-in ceremony?
The controversy centres on Vande Mataram being played before the Tamil invocation song Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the swearing-in of 23 ministers in CM C. Joseph Vijay's Cabinet on 21 May. The DMK argues Tamil Nadu's established convention is to open official functions with Tamil Thai Vazhthu, not the national song.
Why is the DMK criticising the Vijay government over this issue?
The DMK accuses the Vijay government of abandoning Tamil cultural traditions and practising what it calls 'BJP-style politics.' The party also alleges the government is functioning under pressure from Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, a BJP appointee.
Has this controversy happened before under the Vijay government?
Yes. A similar dispute arose at CM Vijay's own swearing-in on 10 May, when Tamil Thai Vazhthu was played after both Vande Mataram and the national anthem. TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna called the sequence 'inappropriate' and said the government would restore the earlier protocol — a commitment that appears not to have been implemented.
What is Tamil Thai Vazhthu and why does it matter in Tamil Nadu?
Tamil Thai Vazhthu is a Tamil invocation song honouring the Tamil language, traditionally used to open official state functions in Tamil Nadu. Its placement reflects the state's strong linguistic and cultural identity, shaped by decades of resistance to Hindi imposition and central cultural encroachment.
What happens next in this controversy?
The Vijay government has not issued a formal clarification or written protocol order as of 21 May. With the DMK maintaining public pressure and the issue recurring across ceremonies, a clear official directive on song-order protocol is expected to be demanded in the state legislature and through continued political pressure.
