“I, Joseph Vijay C, take oath as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,” TVK chief Vijay declared as he formally assumed office on Sunday, marking a dramatic political milestone in the state’s history.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Chandrasekhar Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the ninth Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, following his party’s strong performance in the 2026 Assembly elections. 

The oath was administered by Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where a large gathering of political leaders, film personalities, and supporters witnessed the high-profile event unfold. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Vijay’s parents, and actor Trisha Krishna were among those present at the ceremony.

Ahead of the swearing-in, Vijay arrived at the venue, greeted Governor Arlekar, and later introduced him to his designated ministers before formally taking the oath as Chief Minister.

Before the oath was administered, Vijay welcomed Governor Arlekar at the venue, setting the tone for a formal transition of power. The ceremony also featured the induction of nine TVK leaders into the cabinet, marking the beginning of the party’s first government in Tamil Nadu.

Those who took oath as ministers alongside Vijay include N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, KA Sengottaiyan, KG Arunraj, P Venkataramanan, R Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan, TK Prabhu, and S Keerthana.

The ceremony comes after TVK’s surprise and historic performance in the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections, where the party secured 108 seats in its debut contest. The result marked a major political shift in the state, with both major Dravidian parties being voted out of power for the first time.

Despite falling short of a simple majority, TVK secured external support from Congress, CPI-M, CPI, VCK, and IUML, enabling Vijay to form the government.