Tamil Nadu’s ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor-turned-politician Joseph Vijay, has withdrawn the appointment of an astrologer as Officer on Special Duty (Political) following sharp criticism from allies and opposition voices. The decision came shortly after the party secured a crucial trust vote on Wednesday morning.
The controversy centred on Radhan Pandit Vetrivel, whose inclusion in the chief minister’s team drew immediate objections. Critics questioned the rationale behind assigning a political role to an astrologer, raising concerns over governance standards and institutional credibility.
Among the first to respond was Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil, who wrote on X, “Beats me. Why would an astrologer require an OSD position?? Can any one explain.”
Allies raise concerns
The issue also unsettled TVK’s allies. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which is backing the government with two seats, openly opposed the move. Its general secretary, D Ravikumar, termed the appointment “unacceptable” within a secular framework of governance.
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Echoing similar concerns, Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary P Shanmugam said the decision ran counter to the state’s responsibility to encourage rational thinking.
Party clarification falls short
Amid the criticism, TVK leader CT Nirmal Kumar attempted to clarify the role, stating that Vetrivel was intended to function as a media spokesperson rather than in a policy-making capacity.
“He is our media person… our media spokesperson. He can be from any profession but has been appointed as a media handler,” Kumar told reporters after the trust vote victory.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On the appointment of TVK spokesperson Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as OSD to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, TVK Joint General Secretary CTR Nirmal Kumar says, "He is our media person. He is already a media spokesperson. Anyone can have their own… pic.twitter.com/bH8MTa7hGc
— ANI (@ANI) May 13, 2026
However, the explanation did little to calm the backlash, prompting the party to reverse the decision.
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A controversial past connection
Vetrivel is known for advising several high-profile figures, including former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Reports suggest that some key political decisions during her Tenure was influenced by his counsel. The association, however, reportedly ended after a prediction related to her disproportionate assets case did not hold true.
