The Congress party will join the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led government in Tamil Nadu on Thursday, marking its return to the state cabinet after nearly six decades. The move follows approval from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for the induction of two party MLAs into the council of ministers.
According to AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal, legislators Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan will take oath as ministers in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 10 am at Bharathiar Mandapam in Lok Bhavan.
“This is a historic occasion for us, as the Congress joins the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a long gap of 59 years,” Venugopal said.
Cabinet entry follows post-poll alliance shift
The Congress, which secured five seats in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, had extended early support to Vijay’s party after it fell short of the majority mark with 108 seats. This backing later translated into a formal post-poll alliance, even as the party had initially contested elections as part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.
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/ANI Sources indicated that a section within the Congress had pushed for a power-sharing arrangement with the DMK before the elections, but DMK chief M. K. Stalin did not agree to such terms. After the results, the Congress shifted its position and aligned with TVK, a move that drew criticism from the DMK.
Rajya Sabha berth under discussion
Alongside cabinet participation, the Congress is in talks with the ruling alliance over a Rajya Sabha seat from Tamil Nadu. The vacancy is expected following the retirement of DMK MP C V Shanmugam in June. With the current numbers, the ruling bloc is well placed to secure the seat in the upcoming biennial election.
“We are negotiating with TVK to give us the Rajya Sabha berth. A Tamil functionary, who played a key role in bringing the Congress closer to the TVK and break the alliance with DMK, is considered as a frontrunner for the berth,” said a Congress leader aware of the negotiations.
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Coalition government returns to Tamil Nadu
/ANI The development also signals the formation of Tamil Nadu’s first coalition government since 1952. Back then, the Congress, despite being the single largest party in the then Madras State, formed a government with support from the Wheel Party led by Manickavel Naicker, who later merged with the Congress.
TVK has also brought together other alliance partners, including the Indian Union Muslim League and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. State minister Aadhav Arjuna said efforts were made to include all partners in governance.
“He (Vijay) has emphasised that the alliance parties should join. The left parties have decided to offer outside support to us. We will always respect that. This government will be a government for social justice and we stand firm on the secular policy,” Arjuna said.
