Historic Cabinet Expansion in Tamil Nadu: 23 New Ministers Sworn In

On May 21, 2026, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet by appointing 23 new ministers, including two from the Congress party. This marks a significant political shift, as it is the first time Congress has been part of the Tamil Nadu government since 1967. The expansion has raised questions about the roles of key allies IUML and VCK, who were not included in this round. With the cabinet now comprising 32 ministers, there are still three positions available for future appointments. This development signals a new chapter in Tamil Nadu's political history.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 21, 2026, 12:01 IST

Significant Political Shift in Tamil Nadu

On Thursday, May 21, 2026, Tamil Nadu witnessed a pivotal moment in its political landscape. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet significantly by incorporating 23 new legislators into the council of ministers. During a grand ceremony held at the Lok Bhavan in Chennai, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed ministers. Notably, this cabinet expansion marks a historic occasion as it includes 21 members from the ruling party, 'Tamilga Vetri Kazhagam' (TVK), along with two legislators from the Congress party.

Congress Makes a Comeback

Congress legislators S. Rajesh Kumar and P. Vishwanathan took their oaths as ministers today. This event is particularly significant as it is the first time since 1967 that the Congress party has officially become part of the Tamil Nadu government. Historically, the two major Dravidian parties—DMK and AIADMK—have never included their allies, including Congress, in the government.

A Look Back at Political History

The first non-Congress government in India post-independence was established in 1967 under the leadership of C.N. Annadurai, the founder of DMK, who achieved a remarkable victory against the then-ruling Congress party.

List of New Ministers

Vishwanathan was elected from the Melur (Madurai) constituency, while Rajesh Kumar won from the Kiliyur (Kanyakumari) constituency. Here is the complete list of new ministers:
A. Srinath (TVK), Kamali S (TVK), C. Vijayalakshmi (TVK), R.V. Ranjitkumar (TVK), R. Vinod (TVK), Rajiv (TVK), B. Rajkumar (TVK), V. Gandhiraj (TVK), Mathan Raja P (TVK), Jagadeshwari K (TVK), Rajesh Kumar S (Congress), M. Vijay Balaji (TVK), Logesh Tamilselvan D (TVK), Vijay Tamil Parthiban A (TVK), Ramesh (TVK), P. Vishwanathan (Congress), Kumar R (TVK), Thenarasu K (TVK), V. Sampath Kumar (TVK), Mohammad Farwas J (TVK), D. Sarathkumar (TVK), N. Mary Wilson (TVK), Vignesh K (TVK).

Absence of IUML and VCK

Notably, the cabinet expansion did not include any legislators from the two major allies of the ruling TVK—Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)—despite their crucial role in supporting the government with two members each in the assembly.

Future Prospects

Chief Minister Vijay had extended invitations to both IUML and VCK, who had previously announced their external support for the government. Although IUML has decided in principle to join the government, it has opted out of the current expansion, stating that it has yet to determine which of its two legislators will be appointed as a minister. VCK has also expressed its willingness to join the cabinet and has already submitted the name of one of its legislators for a ministerial position.

Cabinet Composition

According to constitutional provisions, Chief Minister Vijay can have a maximum of 35 ministers, which is 15 percent of the total assembly membership. With the addition of 23 new ministers, the total number of ministers in Vijay's government has now reached 32, leaving three positions still vacant, which may be allocated to allied parties like VCK and IUML in the future.