BJP's Khandelwal congratulates Vijay on Tamil Nadu CM oath, targets DMK and Congress
Synopsis
Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay's swearing-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has drawn BJP's Praveen Khandelwal into the political arena — with congratulations for Vijay, a sharp critique of DMK's five-year record under Stalin, and a fresh jab at Congress for failing to name a Chief Minister in Kerala despite a clear majority.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal congratulated C.
Joseph Vijay on his swearing-in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on 10 May .
Khandelwal criticised the outgoing DMK government under M.K.
Stalin , saying it failed to meet people's expectations over five years.
Vijay , president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) , ended nearly six decades of DMK-AIADMK alternating rule in Tamil Nadu.
Nine ministers were sworn in alongside Vijay; the ceremony was held at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai .
Khandelwal also targeted Congress for failing to name a Chief Minister in Kerala despite a clear majority, nearly a week after election results.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal on Sunday, 10 May congratulated C. Joseph Vijay following his swearing-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, expressing hope that the new government would deliver better governance after what he described as years of public dissatisfaction under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) administration led by M.K. Stalin.
Khandelwal's Remarks on Tamil Nadu
"Many congratulations to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. It is hoped that, as compared to the situation of chaos over the past five years in Tamil Nadu and the government under Stalin's leadership not meeting people's expectations, Vijay and TVK will work towards improving governance in Tamil Nadu," Khandelwal said.
The BJP MP's statement came hours after Vijay, president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.
Historic Political Transition in Tamil Nadu
Vijay's swearing-in marks a significant political shift in Tamil Nadu, ending nearly six decades of alternating rule between the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Nine ministers were also sworn in alongside Vijay as part of the new council of ministers.
The ceremony drew several prominent national and regional political figures, film personalities, and thousands of party supporters. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was among the notable attendees. Chennai city police deployed heavy security personnel, intensified vehicle checks, and imposed strict access-control measures near the stadium to manage the massive turnout.
BJP Targets Congress Over Kerala Delay
Khandelwal also used the occasion to take a swipe at the Indian National Congress (Congress), pointing to the party's delay in naming a Chief Minister in Kerala despite securing a clear majority in the state Assembly elections.
"Congress, on one hand, makes big claims and remains continuously involved in a politics of allegations and counter-allegations. But even where Congress has a clear majority, and a week is about to pass, the party has still not been able to decide the name of its Chief Minister in Kerala," he said.
What's Next
With Vijay's TVK now at the helm in Tamil Nadu, political observers will be watching closely to see how the new government navigates governance priorities, its relationship with the Centre, and whether it can distinguish itself from the DMK administration it replaced. The Congress's internal deliberations over Kerala's Chief Ministerial pick are also expected to conclude shortly under growing public and political pressure.
Point of View
With limited electoral presence in Tamil Nadu, has an interest in amplifying TVK's rise as a counter-narrative to Dravidian politics. Notably, the congratulatory message arrives with conditions attached, signalling that the BJP will hold Vijay to a governance standard it denied the DMK. Whether TVK can deliver on that standard — or whether the BJP's framing holds — will define the political conversation in Tamil Nadu over the next year.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is C. Joseph Vijay and which party does he lead?
C. Joseph Vijay is a prominent Tamil film actor who entered politics as the founder and president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). He was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 10 May, ending nearly six decades of alternating rule between the DMK and AIADMK.
What did BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal say about the new Tamil Nadu government?
Khandelwal congratulated Vijay and expressed hope that the TVK government would improve governance, contrasting it with what he described as five years of chaos and unmet public expectations under the DMK administration led by M.K. Stalin.
Who administered the oath to Vijay as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister?
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to C. Joseph Vijay at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. Nine ministers were also sworn in as part of the new council of ministers.
Why did Khandelwal criticise Congress in his statement?
Khandelwal pointed out that Congress had failed to name a Chief Minister in Kerala nearly a week after securing a clear majority in the state Assembly elections, calling it an example of the party's internal dysfunction despite its public claims of strong leadership.
What is the political significance of Vijay's swearing-in?
Vijay's assumption of office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister is historically significant as it breaks a near-60-year cycle of power alternating between the DMK and AIADMK, marking the first time a third political force has come to power in the state in the modern era.
