In his maiden address after taking over as CM, Vijay said a new regime committed to “real secularism and social justice” has started. Vijay asserted that there will not be any power centres other than him and emphasised that he will be the deciding authority.
“I will not deceive people with false promises. I will only do what is possible,” he said. “People may wonder whether things that seem impossible can ever be achieved. But when crores of people stand with me, I believe anything can be accomplished.”
He thanked Congress, VCK, IUML and Left parties for extending support to his party to form the government. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi was present at the ceremony. Vijay specially thanked the children who persuaded their families to vote for his party. He made a special mention of the ‘virtual warriors’ who tirelessly worked for the party.
He lamented the present condition of the Tamil Nadu government and said the state’s outstanding debt has exceeded ₹10 lakh crore. He said the government treasury had been emptied, and that a heavy burden was left behind by the outgoing government.
“It is in such a situation that we have taken up this responsibility… After assessing it, we will release a white paper. I want to run a transparent government, tell the people the actual situation and take things forward from there. That will be my first duty,” he said.
Nine senior TVK leaders were sworn in as ministers, including veteran , KA Sengottaiyan, Aadhav Arjuna, CTR Nirmal Kumar, ‘Bussy’ N Anand, Raj Mohan, KT Prabhu, KG Arunraaj, P Venkataramanan and S Keerthana. Immediately after taking over as CM, Vijay prioritised free power, women’s safety, and anti-narcotics measures. He signed papers allowing 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers who consume up to 500 units of electricity bimonthly. He also ordered the setting up of a special force for women’s safety and for anti-drug trafficking units across the state. He resigned from the Trichy East assembly seat, prompting a bypoll for the constituency.
Within hours of taking office, orders were passed for the first major bureaucratic reshuffle with P Senthilkumar, who was serving as additional chief secretary in the health and family welfare department being posted as additional chief secretary and secretary-I to the CM. G Laxmi Priya, secretary to government in the Adi Dravidar and tribal welfare department, has been appointed secretary-II to the CM.
Former Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin extended his congratulations to Vijay but hit back for his remarks about the DMK government: “I welcome the announcements that you have signed upon taking office… Don’t talk about the government not having money right away. It has all that. All you need is the will and ability to govern. For five years, we have implemented countless welfare schemes by overcoming many problems like Covid-19, floods and the dishonesty of BJP government.”
‘Thamizhthai Vaazhthu’ Row
The oath-taking ceremony was not without controversy. TVK found itself in an awkward situation when CPI state secretary M Veerapandiyan on Sunday took exception to the relegation of the Thamizhthai Vaazhthu to the third place, following Vande Mataram and the National Anthem.
“As per instructions by the Raj Bhavan, giving precedence to ‘Vande Mataram’ and placing Tamil in the third position in the programme schedule of the swearing-in ceremony organised by the Tamil Nadu government amounts to a violation of established convention,” he said in a statement.
He said the new government must explain who was responsible for the lapse and must ensure that the Tamil invocation is accorded primacy. “Chief minister C Joseph Vijay and the Pro-tem Speaker must ensure Thamizhthai Vaazhthu is sung at the start of tomorrow’s assembly session, with the National Anthem reserved for conclusion.”
