Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay's TVK Government Sworn In, Marks Congress' Return to Power After 55 Years

The Congress is set to return to government after 55 years following the formation of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu Tamizhaga Vettai Kazhagam (TVK) government. After a hung mandate in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Congress has supported TVK, in return for which Vijay decided to give Congress two ministerial berths in the government. The new government was sworn in during a grand ceremony held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, where Vijay became the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Along with him, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar also administered the oath of office and secrecy to nine ministers. TVK Party, which contested the assembly elections for the first time under Vijay's leadership, emerged as the largest party by winning 108 seats in the 234-member assembly. However, the party fell short of the 118-seat mark required for a majority, forcing Vijay to seek the support of Congress and other like-minded parties to form a government. Despite Congress contesting 28 seats under the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), the party could only get 5 seats in the All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting held in Delhi.