Vijay sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM: Film stars, tight security at Chennai ceremony
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, 11 May 2025, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, in a high-profile ceremony attended by political leaders, film personalities, industrialists, and senior dignitaries from across the country. The event was accompanied by massive security arrangements enforced by Chennai city police, including heavy vehicle checks and strict access control measures around the venue.
Security and Arrangements at the Venue
Chennai city police deployed extensive personnel, intensified vehicle checks, and imposed strict access control in and around the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium ahead of the ceremony. Special seating arrangements were made for prominent guests, with the front row reserved for Vijay's parents — veteran filmmaker S.A. Chandrasekhar and Shobha Chandrasekhar. Actress Trisha Krishnan and her mother were also allotted seats in the same row, drawing considerable attention from media and fans gathered at the venue.
Film World Adds Glamour to the Occasion
Before the ceremony commenced, Trisha Krishnan was seen interacting warmly with Vijay's mother, Shobha Chandrasekhar — a moment that quickly became a talking point, with television channels and attendees focusing on the exchange. Trisha also spent time with several other film personalities present at the event, creating a lively atmosphere inside the stadium. Several guests were seen photographing themselves with the actress as excitement built ahead of the oath-taking.
How TVK Secured the Majority
Vijay's elevation to the Chief Minister's post follows TVK's emergence as the single largest party in the recently concluded Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, winning 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly. While the party fell short of the majority mark of 118 on its own, it subsequently secured the support of the Indian National Congress (Congress), the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
With the backing of alliance partners and outside support, the Vijay-led front crossed the magic number with the support of 120 MLAs, paving the way for the formation of the new government in Tamil Nadu. Along with Vijay, nine ministers are also expected to take the oath as members of the new cabinet, marking a historic transition in the state's political landscape.
A Historic Political Transition
Vijay's swearing-in represents one of the most dramatic transitions in Tamil Nadu's political history — a superstar stepping off the silver screen and directly into the state's highest executive office. This comes amid a broader trend of film personalities entering formal politics in the southern states, though few have achieved electoral success of this scale on a debut outing. The new government will be watched closely for its policy direction, cabinet composition, and its ability to manage a coalition of ideologically diverse partners.