Chennai, May 9 (IANS). Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will reach Chennai on May 10 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of C. Joseph Vijay as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. According to official sources, Rahul Gandhi will reach Chennai by plane at around 8:40 am.
In view of Rahul Gandhi’s visit and this high-profile political event, tight security arrangements have been made at key places in the city.
Vijay will take oath as Chief Minister at 10 am at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai. Governor Rajendra Arlekar will administer him the oath of office and secrecy. Several senior national and regional political leaders, film personalities and party workers are expected to attend the event.
Vijay’s party ‘Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam’ (TVK) has emerged as the largest party in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Although TVK had missed out on securing a simple majority on its own, Congress had extended its support to Vijay soon after the election results. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Indian Union Muslim League have also announced their unconditional support to the Vijay-led alliance.
The TVK-led faction, with the support of alliance partners and supporting parties, has secured the support of 120 MLAs and easily crossed the majority mark of 118 MLAs required to form the government in Tamil Nadu.
Governor Arlekar formally invited Vijay to form the government after the alliance partners submitted letters of support at the Raj Bhavan. Vijay is expected to take oath along with some of his cabinet members, while the entire cabinet is likely to be expanded later.
Political experts consider Vijay’s rise to be one of the most significant political developments in Tamil Nadu in recent years. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to begin his first term as chief minister amid heightened public and political interest across the state.
–IANS
OP/DKP