Tamil Nadu CM Vijay revokes astrologer's OSD appointment after ally, opposition backlash
Synopsis
Hours after winning its trust vote, the Vijay-led TVK government in Tamil Nadu was forced to revoke the appointment of CM Vijay's personal astrologer as OSD-Political — a rare case of a government reversing course on its very first day in office under pressure from its own allies.
Key Takeaways
TVK government revoked the OSD-Political appointment of astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel on Wednesday , hours after winning the trust vote.
The appointment had been made through an official government order on Tuesday , drawing immediate backlash.
Allies including VCK MLA Vanni Arasu and DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth publicly criticised the move inside the Assembly.
CPI(M) State Secretary P.
Shanmugam , CPI leader M.
Veerapandian , and Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil also condemned the appointment on grounds of secular governance and scientific temper.
Rickey Radhan Pandit's website claims past advisory links with former CM J.
Jayalalithaa and the AIADMK leadership.
The newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government in Tamil Nadu revoked the appointment of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's personal astrologer, Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, as Officer on Special Duty (OSD-Political) to the CM on Wednesday, 14 May 2025, hours after the government won its trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The swift reversal came after a wave of criticism from opposition parties, coalition allies, and civil society — marking a significant early embarrassment for the Vijay administration.
How the Controversy Unfolded
Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel had been appointed as OSD-Political through an official government order issued on Tuesday. A close confidant of Chief Minister Vijay, he had played an active role in the TVK's Assembly election campaign and served as one of the party's spokespersons. He had drawn public attention earlier by predicting a
Point of View
Formalising that role into a taxpayer-funded OSD position was always going to invite scrutiny in a state with a strong rationalist political tradition rooted in the Dravidian movement. The backlash from VCK and DMDK, both coalition members, is particularly telling — it suggests allies are willing to break ranks publicly when the optics are bad, which could complicate governance on more substantive issues ahead.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel appointed as OSD in Tamil Nadu?
Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel was appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD-Political) to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay through an official government order issued on Tuesday. He is a personal astrologer and close confidant of Vijay who had actively campaigned for the TVK during the Assembly elections and served as a party spokesperson.
Why was the OSD appointment revoked?
The appointment was revoked on Wednesday after intense criticism from opposition parties, TVK coalition allies, and civil society, who argued it promoted superstition, contradicted secular governance, and misused taxpayer funds for a personal adviser's role. The backlash erupted both inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly and on social media within hours of the order being issued.
Who criticised the astrologer's appointment?
Critics included VCK MLA Vanni Arasu, DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth, CPI(M) State Secretary P. Shanmugam, CPI leader M. Veerapandian, and Congress MP and former IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil. Notably, VCK and DMDK are coalition partners of the TVK government, making their public dissent particularly significant.
Who is Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel?
Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel is described as a personal astrologer and close associate of CM C. Joseph Vijay. His official website claims he had advisory links with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and the AIADMK leadership on numerology, electoral strategy, and political decisions. He had predicted a 'tsunami victory' for Vijay ahead of the 2025 election results.
What does this episode mean for the TVK government?
The reversal, coming on the very first day the TVK government faced the Assembly, marks an early embarrassment and signals potential fault lines within the ruling coalition. It also highlights the political sensitivity around rationalism and scientific temper in Tamil Nadu's Dravidian political tradition.
