Tamil Nadu Cabinet Expands: Congress Joins CM Vijay's Coalition After Decades

In a significant political development, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet on Thursday, May 21, 2026, a move that formally inducted the Indian National Congress (INC) into the state government for the first time in 59 years. This historic expansion saw 23 new ministers taking the oath of office and secrecy, administered by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan. The inclusion of two Congress Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs), S. Rajesh Kumar from Killiyoor and P. Viswanathan from Melur, marks a new era of coalition politics in Tamil Nadu, which has largely been dominated by single-party Dravidian rule for decades. Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal confirmed on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, that party president Mallikarjun Kharge had approved the induction of these two MLAs into the Council of Ministers. It is anticipated that S. Rajesh Kumar will be allocated the Tourism portfolio, while P. Viswanathan is likely to be given Higher Education. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, an actor-turned-politician and founder-president of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), assumed office as the ninth Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10, 2026. His party, TVK, made a notable debut in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, emerging as the single largest party with 108 seats. However, falling short of the majority mark in the 234-member assembly, Vijay sought support from other parties to form the government. The Congress, which secured five Assembly seats as part of an alliance, was among the first to extend its support to Vijay's government. Beyond the Congress, the TVK has also extended invitations to the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) to join the cabinet. Both parties are expected to secure one ministerial berth each, further solidifying the coalition nature of the government. The Left parties have also extended their support to the TVK, helping it cross the majority threshold and preventing the possibility of President's Rule. This broad alliance signals a significant political realignment, breaking the duopoly of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) that has dominated Tamil Nadu politics since 1967. The formation of this coalition government is particularly noteworthy as the Congress has been out of power in Tamil Nadu's cabinet since 1967 when it was ousted by the DMK. The incumbent government, led by CM Vijay, proved its majority in the Assembly on May 10, 2026, with the support of MLAs from Congress, VCK, IUML, CPI, CPI(M), and a faction of AIADMK led by S.P. Velumani. This collective support enabled the TVK to form the government, marking a departure from nearly six decades of governments led exclusively by Dravidian parties. The expanded cabinet now comprises 33 ministers, with the possibility of reaching its maximum strength of 35 if VCK and IUML also join. This expansion aims to ensure broader representation and strengthen the government's legislative base. The political landscape of Tamil Nadu is undergoing a significant transformation with this multi-party governance, focusing on welfare, urban planning, and technology-driven governance under Chief Minister Vijay. The news article's headline, 'T.N. Cabinet expansion LIVE: Congress set to join Tamil Nadu's first coalition government in decades,' is accurate. The term 'LIVE' reflects the real-time nature of the cabinet expansion event happening on May 21, 2026. The claims regarding the Congress joining after decades and the formation of a coalition government are well-corroborated by multiple credible news sources, indicating no sensationalism, fakery, or inaccuracy. The narrative consistently emphasizes the historical significance of this political shift within the state.

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