TVK revokes astrologer OSD appointment in CM Vijay’s office within 24 hours amid backlash

Chennai: In a swift political U-turn, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government has revoked within 24 hours its controversial decision to appoint an astrologer as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, following strong criticism from opposition parties and allies in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The decision to appoint astrologer and party spokesperson Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as OSD to the Chief Minister triggered immediate political outrage in the state.

Facing mounting pressure, the TVK government reportedly revoked the appointment within a day, marking a rare and rapid reversal of an administrative decision.

The appointment had drawn sharp criticism from political opponents, who argued that introducing astrological practices into governance undermined administrative credibility.

DMK allies slam TVK move in Assembly

Strong reactions came from allies of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam during proceedings in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (MJK) MLA Thamimun Ansari criticised the move, stating that personal beliefs should not influence government functioning and that astrology should not be part of administrative decision-making.

Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Premalatha Vijayakanth also condemned the appointment, calling it unacceptable in a government setup.

Floor test support dynamics

Despite the controversy, the TVK government successfully passed a vote of confidence in the Assembly with 144 votes.

Several parties, including the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, VCK and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), extended support to the government during the floor test.

The BJP maintained a neutral stance, while the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) abstained, citing concerns over social justice and governance priorities.

The episode has sparked wider debate over the role of personal beliefs in public administration and the standards expected in government appointments.

Opposition voices have argued that such decisions raise concerns about policy direction and institutional neutrality, while supporters of the government have emphasised broader coalition stability in the Assembly.

With the appointment now revoked, the issue has added another layer of scrutiny to the functioning of the newly formed TVK government, which continues to navigate a complex coalition environment in Tamil Nadu politics.