For the first time in nearly six decades, the Congress finds itself in a good place in Tamil Nadu with two MLAs – S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan – as part of the current state cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Both the leaders are part of the state government led by Vijay’s Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) and were sworn in on Thursday as the chief minister expanded his cabinet to make way for his allies.
However, when one of the Congress MLAs sought to pay tribute to his party leader Rahul Gandhi while taking oath, he was schooled by the governor.
“Long live people’s leader Kamarajar, long live Rajiv Gandhi and long live Rahul Gandhi,” Congress MP from Kiliyur constituency Rajesh Kumar said after taking the oath, when he was later interrupted by Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlikar, who reminded him that it was not part of his oath, but with a smile.
“This is not part of your oath,” the governor said.
On Thursday, about two weeks after forming the government in Tamil Nadu, CM Vijay expanded his cabinet with 23 new members, two of them from the Congress and the remaining 21 from his party TVK.
Also read: Disagreement over playing of Tamil Nadu state song after national anthem, Vande Mataram at ministerial oath-taking ceremony
Both the Congress leaders were given key portfolios in the newly sworn-in government. Rajesh Kumar was given the tourism portfolio and his party colleague P Viswanathan was sworn in as Higher Education Minister.
Vijay’s TVK emerged as the single largest party in the recently held Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and formed a government in the state with the support of several smaller parties including the Congress. The Grand Old Party, with its five state parties, was among the first to lend its support to TVK.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Congress MP P Viswanathan said the party “will extend its full support to every scheme and initiative undertaken by” CM Vijay, news agency PTI reported.
Complete list of leaders who took oath in Tamil Nadu today
Rajesh Kumar S-Killior (Congress)
P. Viswanathan-Mellor (Congress)
Srinath – Thoothukudi
Kamali S – Avinashi
C. Vijayalakshmi – Kumarapalayam
R.V. Ranjithkumar – Kancheepuram
Vinoth – Kumbakonam
Rajeev – Thiruvadhanai
for. Rajkumar – Cuddalore
V. Gandhiraj – Arakkonam
Mathan Raja B – Ottabidaram
Jejadeshwari K – Rajapalayam
M. Vijay Balaji – Erosion of the East
Logesh Tamilselvan D – Rasipuram
Vijay Tamilan Parthiban A – Salem South
Ramesh – Srirangam
Kumar R – Velachery
Thenarasu K – Sriperumbudur
In Sampath Kumar – North Coimbatore
Muhammad Farfas J – Arantangi
Dr. Sarathkumar – Tambaram
n. Mary Wilson – Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar
Vignesh K – Kinathukadavu
