Tamil Nadu Assembly session Monday: Pro-tem Speaker Karuppaiah to swear in TVK MLAs
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu's new political era gets its legislative foundation on Monday, as Pro-tem Speaker MV Karuppaiah swears in TVK MLAs — just hours after actor-turned-CM C. Joseph Vijay formally assumed charge, ending decades of DMK-AIADMK dominance in the state.
Key Takeaways
The Tamil Nadu Assembly's first session convenes on Monday at 9:30 am IST with Pro-tem Speaker MV Karuppaiah administering the oath to newly elected MLAs.
Karuppaiah , the Cholavandhan MLA , was sworn in as Pro-tem Speaker by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Raj Bhavan, Chennai on Sunday.
Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu's 13th Chief Minister on Sunday, alongside nine Cabinet Ministers .
TVK won 108 of 234 Assembly seats and secured the support of 120 MLAs with backing from Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML.
The election for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is scheduled for Tuesday .
Vijay's swearing-in ends the decades-long hold of the DMK and AIADMK on Tamil Nadu's government.
The first session of the newly elected Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will convene on Monday, 12 May 2025, at 9:30 am IST, with Pro-tem Speaker MV Karuppaiah set to administer the oath of office to all newly elected Members of the Legislative Assembly. The session marks the formal legislative launch of the new government led by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief C. Joseph Vijay, who was sworn in as Tamil Nadu's 13th Chief Minister on Sunday.
Pro-tem Speaker Takes Oath
Ahead of Monday's session, Karuppaiah took oath as Pro-tem Speaker on Sunday, 11 May 2025, at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, Chennai. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to the Cholavandhan MLA, who will preside over the initial proceedings of the Assembly until a permanent Speaker is elected. The election for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly is scheduled for the following day.
Vijay Sworn In as Chief Minister
In a landmark ceremony on Sunday, TVK President C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu by Governor Arlekar at a grand event attended by political leaders, film personalities, party workers, and supporters. Vijay subsequently arrived at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat and formally assumed charge. Nine Ministers were also sworn in alongside him as members of the new Council of Ministers.
A Historic Political Shift
Vijay's assumption of office represents a significant realignment in Tamil Nadu's political landscape, ending the decades-long dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). The actor-turned-politician led the TVK to win 108 seats in the 234-member House — emerging as the single largest party, though short of the outright majority mark of 118.
The TVK-led combine secured the backing of 120 MLAs in total, with support from alliance and outside partners including the Indian National Congress (Congress), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), comfortably clearing the majority threshold.
What the Assembly Session Signals
Monday's session is expected to formally set in motion the legislative functioning of the new government. All eyes are on the priorities and policy direction of the Vijay-led administration in the days ahead, particularly on welfare commitments made during the election campaign. The swearing-in of the Speaker on Tuesday will complete the constitutional formation of the new House.
Point of View
Led by a film star with no prior legislative experience, now commands a government in one of India's most politically sophisticated states. The TVK's 108-seat tally without an outright majority means the alliance arithmetic will be a constant pressure point; Congress and Left partners will expect policy returns. The real test begins not with the oath ceremony but with the first budget and the first policy contradiction between Vijay's populist campaign promises and fiscal reality. Tamil Nadu's debt position leaves little room for expansive welfare without either Centre support or revenue reform — neither of which is guaranteed.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Tamil Nadu Assembly session and what will happen?
The first session of the newly elected Tamil Nadu Assembly convenes on Monday, 12 May 2025, at 9:30 am IST. Pro-tem Speaker MV Karuppaiah will administer the oath of office to all newly elected MLAs, formally initiating the legislative proceedings of the new TVK-led government.
Who is MV Karuppaiah and why was he appointed Pro-tem Speaker?
MV Karuppaiah is the MLA from Cholavandhan constituency who was appointed Pro-tem Speaker to preside over the Assembly's initial proceedings. He was sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Raj Bhavan, Chennai, on Sunday, and will hold the role until a permanent Speaker is elected the following day.
How did TVK form the government despite not winning an outright majority?
TVK won 108 seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, falling short of the 118-seat majority mark. However, with support from alliance and outside partners — Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML — the TVK-led combine secured the backing of 120 MLAs, comfortably clearing the majority threshold.
When will the Tamil Nadu Assembly elect its Speaker and Deputy Speaker?
The election for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly is scheduled for Tuesday, the day after the first session convenes on Monday.
What is the political significance of Vijay becoming Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister?
C. Joseph Vijay's swearing-in as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu ends the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in state politics. It marks the first time a newly formed party, led by an actor-turned-politician, has come to power in Tamil Nadu.
