Congress set to join Tamil Nadu govt after 59 years, two MLAs to take oath tomorrow
Chennai, May 20
In a major political development, the Indian National Congress is set to become part of the Tamil Nadu Cabinet for the first time in nearly six decades, as two of its legislators are scheduled to take oath as ministers in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, on Thursday.
The announcement came after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the induction of Congress MLAs S.Rajesh Kumar and P.Viswanathan into the state Cabinet.
The move is being viewed as an important step in the evolving political landscape of Tamil Nadu and a significant strengthening of the alliance supporting the TVK government.
Confirming the development through a social media post, AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said: "Hon'ble INC President Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge ji has approved the induction of INC MLAs Adv. Rajesh Kumar and Thiru P. Vishwanathan into the Tamil Nadu cabinet, and they will be taking oath as Ministers tomorrow."
Describing it as a landmark moment for the party, Venugopal further wrote: "This is a historic occasion for us, as the Congress joins the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a long gap of 59 years." He also extended his best wishes to the two leaders and expressed confidence that they would work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu while carrying forward a welfare-oriented governance model.
The Congress currently has five MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and emerged as a key supporting force for the TVK government following the Assembly election. The support extended by Congress, along with alliance partners including Left parties, VCK and IUML, helped the Vijay-led administration comfortably cross the majority mark in the Assembly.
Political observers view the induction of Congress ministers as more than a routine Cabinet expansion. It is being seen as a calculated move by the TVK leadership to strengthen alliance management and provide greater representation to supporting parties while maintaining political stability.
The swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Thursday is expected to mark a new chapter in Tamil Nadu politics, with Congress returning to ministerial responsibility in the state after an absence spanning nearly six decades.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Historic indeed! But let's be real—this is probably more about alliance math than anything else. Congress has only 5 MLAs, yet they get two ministries? Something doesn't sit right. Is this really about "welfare governance" or just keeping the coalition afloat? 🤔
Finally, some political stability in Tamil Nadu! After all the chaos in the last few years, a coalition that includes a national party like Congress might help bring more coordination with the Centre. Plus, 59 years is way too long for a party with Congress's legacy to be out of power in the state.
My family in Chennai is divided on this! Some say it's good for regional parties to have a pan-India ally, others say Congress will just meddle. But honestly, as long as they focus on Tamil issues—water, jobs, infrastructure—I'm willing to give them a chance. Action speaks louder than historic moments! 👏
Mark my words: this is a clever move by Vijay. By inducting Congress, he's sending a signal to Delhi. But history shows these coalitions often crack under pressure. Hope I'm wrong and this works out for Tamil Nadu's development. The swearing-in ceremony will be interesting to watch! 📺
I'm happy for the Congress workers in TN who've waited decades for this! But I wish they'd focus on youth unemployment and rising prices instead of just cabinet berths. Still, better than having no representation at all. Let's see what these two MLAs actually deliver in their portfolios. 🤞
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