Rahul Gandhi to Attend Vijay’s Swearing-In as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

Chennai, May 2026 : Rahul Gandhi is set to arrive in Chennai on Sunday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of C. Joseph Vijay as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

According to official sources, the senior Congress leader is expected to land in Chennai at around 8.40 a.m. ahead of the high-profile political event scheduled later in the morning.

Extensive security arrangements have been put in place across key locations in Chennai in view of Rahul Gandhi’s visit and the oath-taking ceremony, which is expected to draw several prominent political leaders, film personalities and thousands of party supporters.

Vijay will take oath as Chief Minister at 10 a.m. at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Governor-in-charge Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the TVK chief.

The ceremony marks a major political milestone in Tamil Nadu, with Vijay set to begin his first term as Chief Minister after the remarkable electoral rise of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, though it initially fell short of the majority mark required to form the government on its own.

Soon after the election results, the Indian National Congress extended support to the Vijay-led formation. The Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) also announced unconditional support to TVK.

With the backing of alliance partners and supporting parties, the TVK-led bloc secured the support of 120 MLAs, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 118 in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Following the submission of letters of support by alliance parties, Governor Arlekar formally invited Vijay to form the next government in the state.

Sources said Vijay is expected to take oath along with a few members of his Cabinet on Sunday, while the ministry may be expanded in phases later.

Political observers describe Vijay’s elevation to the Chief Minister’s post as one of the most significant political developments in Tamil Nadu in recent years. The actor-turned-politician’s transition from cinema to state leadership has generated enormous public interest and reshaped the political landscape of the state.