Tamil Nadu Elects First Non-DMK/AIADMK Leader Since 1967: Actor C Joseph Vijay Sworn In as Chief Minister

TVK chief C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 10 May at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai. With this, he became the first leader from outside the DMK and AIADMK alliance to lead the Tamil Nadu government since 1967. Tamil Nadu has a long history of actors entering politics and achieving success. The biggest example of film stars directly reaching power in Tamil Nadu is MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR. He established himself as a messiah of the poor, a just and corruption-fighting hero in his films. This image gained tremendous public support when he entered politics. MGR proved that if the cinematic image matched the aspirations of the masses, then direct votes could be converted. After MGR's death, Jayalalithaa's legacy was not only maintained but given new political dimensions. Jayalalithaa came into politics from the film world. In the early days of the party, she faced stiff opposition from within the cheap subsidies, women's control, and Amma-Canteen products. She launched two Tamil Nadu-centric schemes.