Congress to enter Tamil Nadu cabinet after 55 years as TVK allots two berths
Synopsis
For the first time in over 55 years, Congress is set to hold ministerial positions in Tamil Nadu — not through its traditional DMK alliance, but by backing a new political force, TVK, led by actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay, after a hung assembly verdict reshaped the state's coalition arithmetic.
Key Takeaways
Congress is set to enter the Tamil Nadu cabinet after more than 55 years , with two ministerial berths allotted by TVK.
TVK , led by Chief Minister C.
Joseph Vijay , won 108 of 234 Assembly seats — falling short of the 118-seat majority mark.
Congress won five seats from 28 contested as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) .
Viswanathan and Killiyoor MLA S.
Rajeshkumar are frontrunners for the Congress cabinet posts.
In 2006 , Congress won 34 seats but was denied cabinet representation — making this induction especially significant.
Final decision on Congress nominees rests with the AICC leadership in New Delhi .
The Indian National Congress is set to return to the Tamil Nadu government after more than 55 years, following the formation of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led administration headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The development marks one of the most politically significant cabinet formations in Tamil Nadu's recent history, ending decades of Congress exclusion from state power.
How the Government Was Formed
TVK, contesting its maiden Assembly election under Vijay's leadership, emerged as the single largest party by winning 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly. However, the party fell short of the majority mark of 118 seats, prompting Vijay to seek support from Congress and other like-minded parties to form a coalition government.
The new government was sworn in during a grand ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, where Vijay took oath as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Along with him, nine ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The TVK government also secured support from the Communist Party of India (CPI), CPI(M), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), enabling Vijay to comfortably cross the majority mark.
Congress's Road to the Cabinet
The Congress, which contested 28 seats as part of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), managed to win only five seats. Despite the reduced tally, the party's central leadership decided to extend support to TVK following a series of consultations by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership in New Delhi. As part of the post-poll power-sharing arrangement, TVK has allotted two ministerial berths to Congress.
Notably, this comes after decades of Congress cadres expressing disappointment over being denied Cabinet positions even during successful alliance governments. In 2006, when the DMK formed the government with outside support from Congress and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Congress — despite winning 34 seats — was not given representation in the State Cabinet.
Who the Congress Ministers Could Be
According to Congress sources, Melur MLA P. Viswanathan and Killiyoor MLA S. Rajeshkumar are among the frontrunners for the two ministerial posts. Rajeshkumar currently serves as the Congress Legislature Party leader, while Viswanathan drew attention during the elections after winning from a general constituency as a Scheduled Caste candidate.
AICC national observer for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar confirmed that discussions regarding the Congress nominees were still underway.
Point of View
When it was denied a berth entirely — yet now secures two ministries. That inversion reflects TVK's arithmetic compulsion more than Congress's resurgence. The deeper question is whether holding two portfolios in a junior partner role will help Congress rebuild its Tamil Nadu base, or simply lend legitimacy to a government it has little leverage over. For Vijay, the calculus is straightforward: Congress's national footprint and AICC backing provide coalition insurance. For Congress, the risk is being absorbed into another alliance without a distinct identity — the same trap it has struggled to escape across southern India for decades.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Congress entering the Tamil Nadu cabinet after 55 years?
Congress is set to join the Tamil Nadu cabinet for the first time in over 55 years after TVK, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, fell short of a majority with 108 seats and needed coalition partners. TVK allotted two ministerial berths to Congress as part of a post-poll power-sharing arrangement.
How many seats did Congress win in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections?
Congress won five seats out of the 28 it contested as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). Despite the reduced tally, the AICC leadership decided to extend support to the TVK government after consultations in New Delhi.
Who are the frontrunners for Congress's two cabinet posts in Tamil Nadu?
According to Congress sources, Melur MLA P. Viswanathan and Killiyoor MLA S. Rajeshkumar are the frontrunners. Rajeshkumar serves as the Congress Legislature Party leader, while Viswanathan won from a general constituency as a Scheduled Caste candidate.
What happened to Congress in Tamil Nadu's 2006 government?
In 2006, Congress won 34 seats but was not given any representation in the State Cabinet when the DMK formed the government with outside support. This makes the current two-berth allocation particularly significant for the party.
When was C. Joseph Vijay sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister?
C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at a ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Nine other ministers were also sworn in at the same ceremony.
