Tamil Nadu CM Vijay to keep Home portfolio; 9 ministers in first Cabinet
Synopsis
Actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay is set to become Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister on Sunday, retaining the powerful Home and Public Administration portfolios — a clear signal of intent to govern hands-on. His alliance of five parties commands 120 seats, just two above the majority mark, making coalition management his first real test.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay takes oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at 10 am on Sunday at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai .
Vijay is expected to retain Home , Police , and Public Administration portfolios.
Nine ministers are likely to be sworn in during the first phase of Cabinet formation.
Alliance of TVK, Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML holds 120 MLAs , above the majority mark of 118 .
Congress leaders Rajesh Kumar and Viswanathan are likely to be inducted as Cabinet Ministers.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief C. Joseph Vijay is set to take oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at 10 am on Sunday, 11 May 2025, and is expected to retain key portfolios including Home, Police, and Public Administration in the new government, according to party sources. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, following Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar's formal invitation to Vijay to form the government after he submitted letters proving majority support in the 234-member Assembly.
First Cabinet: Nine Ministers Expected
Sources indicate that nine ministers are likely to take oath alongside Vijay in the first phase of Cabinet formation. A tentative list of ministers and portfolios has emerged ahead of the ceremony.
Senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan is expected to handle the Public Works Department (PWD), while N. Anand is likely to be given the Municipal Administration portfolio. C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar may take charge of the Electricity Department.
Aadhav Arjuna is expected to be entrusted with the Sports Development portfolio, while Raj Mohan is likely to become Minister for the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department. V.N.S. Mustafa is expected to handle Minority Welfare in the new Cabinet.
According to sources, P. Venkataramanan may be assigned the School Education portfolio, while Arun Raj is likely to oversee Commercial Taxes and Registration.
Congress to Get Cabinet Representation
The Indian National Congress (Congress), which extended support to the Vijay-led formation following the Assembly election results, is also expected to receive Cabinet representation. Sources indicated that Congress leaders Rajesh Kumar and Viswanathan are likely to be inducted as Cabinet Ministers, reflecting the coalition's composition.
How Vijay Secured His Majority
The TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections but fell short of the majority mark on its own. Vijay subsequently secured the backing of the Congress, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), taking the alliance tally to 120 MLAs — comfortably above the majority mark of 118.
What Vijay's Portfolio Choices Signal
Political observers view Vijay's decision to retain the Home and Public Administration departments as a sign that the actor-turned-politician intends to maintain direct control over governance and law-and-order management during the initial phase of his administration. This comes amid expectations that his government will face early scrutiny on delivery, given the high-profile nature of his political debut. Notably, retaining Home is a common strategy among first-time chief ministers seeking to consolidate authority before delegating sensitive functions.
All eyes will be on the full Cabinet expansion expected in subsequent phases, where alliance partners are likely to press for additional representation.
Point of View
The two levers that define a government's early authority. For a first-time politician heading a coalition that commands only a two-seat buffer above the majority mark, consolidating these portfolios reduces dependence on allies for day-to-day governance. The real question is whether the tentative Cabinet list, heavy on TVK loyalists, leaves enough room for meaningful coalition partner representation — or whether Congress and the Left will push back in the second expansion round.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will C. Joseph Vijay take oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister?
C. Joseph Vijay is set to take oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at 10 am on Sunday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar formally invited him to form the government after he demonstrated majority support in the 234-member Assembly.
Which portfolios will CM Vijay retain?
According to party sources, Vijay is expected to retain the Home, Police, and Public Administration portfolios. Political observers see this as a move to maintain direct control over governance and law-and-order in the early phase of his administration.
Who are the likely ministers in Tamil Nadu's first Cabinet under Vijay?
The tentative list includes K.A. Sengottaiyan (PWD), N. Anand (Municipal Administration), C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar (Electricity), Aadhav Arjuna (Sports Development), Raj Mohan (Adi Dravidar Welfare), V.N.S. Mustafa (Minority Welfare), P. Venkataramanan (School Education), and Arun Raj (Commercial Taxes and Registration). Congress leaders Rajesh Kumar and Viswanathan are also likely to be inducted.
How did Vijay secure a majority in the Tamil Nadu Assembly?
TVK emerged as the single-largest party but fell short of a majority on its own. Vijay secured support from Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML, taking the alliance total to 120 MLAs — two seats above the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Assembly.
Will Congress get representation in Tamil Nadu's Cabinet?
Yes, Congress, which extended support to the Vijay-led alliance after the election results, is expected to receive Cabinet representation. Party leaders Rajesh Kumar and Viswanathan are reportedly likely to be inducted as Cabinet Ministers.
