CM Joseph Vijay takes MLA oath in 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly
Synopsis
A day after becoming Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay completed his constitutional transition by taking oath as MLA from Perambur — choosing a secular affirmation over a religious one, a subtle but telling signal from a leader whose party swept its maiden Assembly election.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay took oath as MLA from Perambur on 11 May , a day after being sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu .
The ceremony was held during the first session of the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly , administered by Pro-tem Speaker Karuppiah .
Vijay chose the secular affirmation "Ulamara Urudhi Koorugiren" (I solemnly affirm with sincerity) as MLA, differing from his CM oath.
Having won from both Perambur and Trichy East , Vijay retained Perambur and resigned from Trichy East, triggering a by-election there.
TVK emerged as the single largest party in the 234-member House and formed the government with alliance support in its maiden Assembly election.
C. Joseph Vijay, leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was sworn in as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) on Monday, 11 May, during the inaugural session of the newly constituted 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai. The ceremony came just a day after Vijay was administered the Chief Minister's oath, marking the formal completion of his dual constitutional entry into office.
The Oath Ceremony
The oath-taking proceedings were held at the Assembly Hall under the supervision of Pro-tem Speaker Karuppiah, who administered the oath to all newly elected legislators. Vijay, who had invoked
Point of View
But in Tamil Nadu's politically charged identity landscape, such distinctions rarely go unnoticed. TVK's maiden electoral outing delivering a legislative majority is a remarkable political debut, but the party now faces the harder test of governance without the benefit of prior administrative experience. The by-election in Trichy East will be the first early indicator of whether the TVK wave holds once the euphoria of victory fades.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did CM Joseph Vijay take a separate oath as MLA?
In India's parliamentary system, the Chief Minister's oath and the MLA oath are two distinct constitutional requirements. Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister on Sunday and then took his MLA oath the following day during the first session of the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Which constituency does CM Vijay represent as MLA?
CM Vijay represents the Perambur Assembly constituency. He had won from both Perambur and Trichy East in the elections but chose to retain Perambur, resigning from Trichy East and triggering a by-election there.
What is Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)?
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam is a political party led by C. Joseph Vijay that contested its first Tamil Nadu Assembly election and emerged as the single largest party in the 234-member House, subsequently forming the government with alliance partners.
What did Pro-tem Speaker Karuppiah say during the session?
Pro-tem Speaker Karuppiah congratulated newly elected members and urged them to serve the public sincerely. He also called on the new government to uphold the ideals of leaders such as Periyar, Kamarajar, Velu Nachiyar, and Anjalai Ammal, and to govern with rationalist and social justice values.
What is the significance of the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly?
The 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly marks a significant political shift, with TVK — a party contesting its first election — forming the government. The new House has 234 members, and its inaugural session on 11 May formally commenced the legislative term.
