Former Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, a senior AIADMK leader and ex-MLA from the Viralimalai Assembly constituency, has confirmed he will formally join Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) on 2 July 2025, describing the move as the start of a new chapter in his three-and-a-half-decade political career. The induction ceremony is scheduled for 9 am at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Mamallapuram, in the presence of Chief Minister Vijay and senior TVK leaders.

A Prominent Leader Switches Sides

Vijayabaskar is one of the most recognisable faces from Pudukkottai district, having represented Viralimalai in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and served as the state's Health Minister in the previous AIADMK administration. He had recently resigned his Assembly membership, triggering widespread speculation about his next political move. His announcement on 1 July put that speculation to rest.

In a statement issued ahead of the ceremony, Vijayabaskar said his 35-year political career had been built entirely around public service and the welfare of Tamil Nadu's people, and that the experience accumulated over those decades had only deepened his commitment to that cause.

Covid-19 Tenure and Public Record

Vijayabaskar specifically recalled his stewardship of the Health Ministry during the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most severe public health emergencies in modern history. He said he had worked with 'complete dedication' during that period to protect lives and mount an effective state response — a record he indicated the public was well aware of.

His tenure during the pandemic remains a defining element of his political identity, and one he invoked to frame his continued relevance as he moves to a new platform.

Why TVK and What He Said

Vijayabaskar described joining TVK as an opportunity to make his public life 'more meaningful' and to contribute more effectively to Tamil Nadu's development. He praised Chief Minister Vijay's government, stating it had secured 'overwhelming public support' and was delivering good governance.

He added that the move would allow him to serve the people of Tamil Nadu with renewed enthusiasm — signalling that his departure from AIADMK is not a retirement from politics but a deliberate repositioning.

TVK's Growing Consolidation

Vijayabaskar's induction is the latest in a series of high-profile additions to TVK's ranks since the party's rise to power in Tamil Nadu. The ruling party has been systematically attracting senior leaders from rival outfits, a pattern that analysts say reflects both AIADMK's post-Jayalalithaa fragmentation and TVK's expanding organisational footprint.

This is not an isolated defection — it is part of a broader realignment in Tamil Nadu politics, with experienced legislators and former ministers gravitating toward the new centre of power. How effectively TVK integrates these veterans without diluting its own identity will be a test of the party's institutional maturity in the months ahead.