Vijay, president of TVK and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, has appointed his long-time astrologer and spiritual advisor, Rikki Radhan Pandit Vetrivel, as an official on special (political) mission to the Prime Minister, according to a government order issued on Tuesday.
Vetrivel has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty to the Prime Minister (Political) “from the date of his accession”, the order said.
The appointment comes just days after Vijay was sworn in as chief minister following the surprise electoral success of his party, Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
The astrologer who guided Vijay’s political journey
Vetrivel, a well-known astrologer and spiritual guide in Tamil Nadu, is believed to have played a key advisory role in Vijay’s political journey. Political observers in the state say that Vijay’s electoral victory was expected long before the results were announced.
Vijay was initially expected to take oath as chief minister on May 10 at 3.45 pm. However, the swearing-in ceremony was later brought forward to 10 a.m. on the advice of Vetrivel, who reportedly suggested the revised timing based on the auspicious ‘foals’.
Finally, the actor-turned-politician took oath on Sunday after the Tamil Nadu governor accepted his demand to form the government. This development came after several rounds of uncertainty and reported delays in the approval process.
Vettrivel was among the first people to congratulate Vijay after TVK’s win, and reached the leader’s residence soon after the results came out.
Veteran miner with political connections
Vetrivel, who is known for his influence in political circles in Tamil Nadu, is said to be practicing astrology for nearly four decades. Many prominent political leaders are said to have consulted him over the years.
Political observers have often linked former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with Vetrivel, claiming that many major policy decisions during her tenure were taken after consulting the astrologer.
Apart from his political connections, Vetrivel also shares astrological tips across social media platforms and maintains a strong grassroots base in the state.
TVK’s stunning debut in Tamil Nadu politics
Founded just over two years ago, TVK emerged as the single largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly in its electoral debut, ending decades of dominance by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
The party won 108 seats, short of the majority mark of 118 seats. However, parties including Congress and VCK extended their support to Vijay, enabling him to form the government.
