C. Joseph Vijay Expands Cabinet; 23 Ministers Take Oath as Congress Joins Government

Tamil Nadu,May 21 (BNP): In a major political development, C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday expanded the Tamil Nadu Cabinet with 23 ministers taking oath, marking a significant restructuring of the newly formed government and the entry of the Congress into the ruling administration after nearly six decades.

The swearing-in ceremony, held in Chennai, saw 21 legislators from the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and two Congress MLAs inducted into the Council of Ministers, strengthening the Vijay-led coalition government. The expansion is aimed at broadening governance representation and enhancing administrative coordination across departments.

The induction of Congress ministers marks a historic political moment, with the party returning to the Tamil Nadu Cabinet after a gap of nearly 59 years. Congress legislators Rajesh Kumar and P. Vishwanathan were among those sworn in, reflecting the growing role of alliance partners in the state government.

The cabinet expansion comes days after Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister and allocated portfolios to an initial set of ministers. Political observers view the move as an effort to strengthen governance, improve coalition coordination and ensure wider regional and social representation within the administration