TVK Cabinet expansion: 23 MLAs, including 2 from Congress, join Vijay's govt - Full list

Nearly two weeks after forming a government in Tamil Nadu with the support of allies, including Congress, as many as 23 MLAs were inducted into the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Cabinet today, 21 May. Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to the newly inducted ministers.

Congress MLAs Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan took the oath of office at the Lok Bhavan in Chennai.

MLAs who took oath to join Vijay's Cabinet: Full list

The oath-taking ceremony was held after Chief Minister Vijay recommended the induction of 23 MLAs into the Council of Ministers, a proposal approved by the Tamil Nadu Governor.

A press release from the Lok Bhavan read: “The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has recommended to induct the following 23 MLAs in the Council of Ministers. The Hon’ble Governor has approved the recommendation made by the Hon’ble Chief Minister to appoint them as Ministers.”

The Council of Ministers has 35 members, and the latest expansion brings the total to 33. Of the total ministerial composition, 21 MLAs are from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and 2 are from the Congress.

On 10 May, Chief Minister Vijay and nine other MLAs had taken oath at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai.

The following MLAs have taken the oath as ministers:

Srinath (MLA from Thoothukudi), Kamali S (MLA from Avinashi), C. Vijayalakshmi, who won from Kumarapalayam Assembly Constituency, R.V. Ranjithkumar of Kancheepuram, Vinoth from Kumbakonam, Rajeev - MLA of Thiruvadanai, B. Rajkumar of Cuddalore, V. Gandhiraj of Arakkonam Assembly Constituency, and Mathan Raja. P from Ottapidaram, Jegadeshwari. K of Rajapalayam, Rajesh Kumar. S. of Killiyoor and M. Vijay Balaji of Erode will take oath as ministers.

Others are Logesh Tamilselvan D of Rasipuram, Vijay Tamilan Parthiban. A of Salem, Ramesh from Srirangam, P. Viswanathan from Melur, Kumar. R, who won from Velachery, Thennarasu. K from Sriperumpudhur, V. Sampath Kumar, who won from Coimbatore, and Mohamed Farvas. J of Aranthangi Assembly Constituency, D. Sarathkumar from Tambaram, N Marie Wilson from Radhakrishnan Nagar and Vignesh K, who won from Kinathukadavu Assembly Constituency, will be taking oaths.

The induction of Congress MLAs marks the national party's return to government in Tamil Nadu after decades, as the Dravidian majors – DMK and AIADMK, have never accommodated allies, including the Congress, which has aligned with both parties at different points in time.

The first non-Congress government in post-independent India was ushered in by Dravidian stalwart and DMK founder CN Annadurai in 1967, when he led the party to a stupendous win against the then-ruling Congress.

(With agency inputs)