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Vijay Appoints Key IAS Officers as Principal Aides in Tamil Nadu CMO

C. Joseph Vijay has appointed senior IAS officers P. Senthil Kumar and G. Lakshmi Priya as his principal aides in the Chief Minister's Office. Senthil Kumar will serve as Principal Secretary while Lakshmi Priya has been named Special Secretary-2. The appointments mark the administrative transition from the previous DMK government led by M.K. Stalin. Celebrations continue across Tamil Nadu as Vijay officially begins his tenure as Chief Minister.

Key Points: Vijay Appoints IAS Officers in TN Chief Minister's Office

  • Vijay appoints IAS officers P. Senthil Kumar and G. Lakshmi Priya as principal aides
  • Senthil Kumar named Principal Secretary, Lakshmi Priya as Special Secretary-2
  • A third Special Secretary expected in coming days
  • Transition from previous DMK government led by M.K. Stalin
2 min read

Vijay appoints key personnel in TN Chief Minister's Office after taking charge

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam President C. Joseph Vijay appoints IAS officers P. Senthil Kumar and G. Lakshmi Priya as special secretaries in the Chief Minister's Office.

"Vijay appeared visibly emotional and pleasantly surprised before occupying the Chief Minister's chair for the first time - Senior officials at the Secretariat"

Chennai, May 10

Hours after assuming office as the 13th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam President C. Joseph Vijay on Sunday initiated key administrative appointments in the Chief Minister's Office, naming senior IAS officers P. Senthil Kumar and G. Lakshmi Priya as his principal aides.

Senthil Kumar, who previously served as Secretary of the Health Department, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, also designated as Special Secretary-1 in the Chief Minister's Office.

Senior IAS officer Lakshmi Priya, who was serving as Secretary of the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, has been appointed as Special Secretary-2 to the Chief Minister.

Sources said the appointment of a third Special Secretary is expected in the coming days.

Traditionally, Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers are assisted by three Special Secretaries along with a Joint Secretary in the CMO, with specific departmental responsibilities allocated among them.

The appointments come shortly after Vijay formally took charge at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat following his swearing-in ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium here earlier in the day.

After arriving at the Secretariat, Vijay was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour by the police. He later proceeded to the Chief Minister's chamber, where senior officials welcomed him and briefed him on administrative formalities.

Officials present at the Secretariat said Vijay appeared visibly emotional and pleasantly surprised before occupying the Chief Minister's chair for the first time. Senior minister K.A. Sengottaiyan was seen encouraging him to take his seat, following which Vijay smiled shyly before formally assuming office.

Assembly Secretary Srinivasan congratulated the new Chief Minister, while senior IAS and IPS officers met him personally and extended their greetings. Several officials also introduced themselves to the newly elected Chief Minister during the interaction at the Secretariat.

The new appointments are also being viewed as part of the administrative transition from the previous DMK government led by M.K. Stalin. During Stalin's tenure, senior IAS officers Udayachandran, Shanmugam, and Anu George had served as Special Secretaries in the Chief Minister's Office, with later changes including the appointment of Umanath after Udayachandran's transfer to the Finance Department in 2024.

Celebrations continued across Tamil Nadu as Vijay officially began his tenure as Chief Minister.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sneha F
Finally some stability! After all the political drama in TN, seeing a CM who's not from a dynastic family but earned his way through public service (and cinema!) is refreshing. The appointments look merit-based. But I hope he doesn't make the same mistakes as other celebrity CMs—governance is different from entertainment. Waited 3 hours in line to vote for TVK; hope this delivers! 🇮🇳
J
James A
Interesting to see how a matinee idol transitions into actual governance. The administrative structure seems familiar—three Special Secretaries is a TN tradition. But my concern: will Vijay's government prioritize infrastructure and economic reforms over populist schemes? The DMK's legacy of fiscal management needs careful handling. Hope he doesn't just fill CMO with fan followers but keeps professional bureaucrats.
R
Rahul R
Good to see veteran minister Sengottaiyan guiding him—that's experience we need. But honestly, I'm worried about the "emotional" moment. Running TN requires tough decisions, not shy smiles. Thalaiva needs to step up fast on law and order (looking at you, Chennai traffic and sand mafia) and water sharing with Karnataka. The appointments are a start, but talk is cheap—show us action on Cauvery and education! 🎬➡️🏛️
P
Priya S
The choice of Lakshmi Priya for Adi Dravidar Welfare background is smart—Dalit empowerment needs serious attention in TN politics. But let's be real: Vijay won on a wave of anti-incumbency against DMK, not just his star power. His cabinet picks next will tell us if he's serious about women's safety and industrial growth. As a woman entrepreneur in Coimbatore, I'm watching closely. No more empty promises please! 🙏

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