Amid condemnation from political parties, Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet on May 21 by giving berths to two Congress legislators who won in the DMK-led alliance, which the people had completely rejected. This is the first time that the Congress has joined the government in Tamil Nadu since 1967, when it was thrown out of power by the then fledgling DMK.
Congress MLAs Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan took oath as ministers at Lok Bhavan in Chennai. Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to the newly inducted ministers. The expansion follows the Chief Minister’s recommendation to induct 23 MLAs into the Council of Ministers, which was approved by the Governor.
With today’s expansion, the strength of the Cabinet has gone up to 33. The Council of Ministers has a sanctioned strength of 35.
இன்று (21.5.2026) சென்னை, கிண்டியிலுள்ள மக்கள் மாளிகையில் நடைபெற்ற அமைச்சர்கள் பதவியேற்பு விழாவில், மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு ஆளுநர் திரு. ராஜேந்திர விஸ்வநாத் அர்லேகர் அவர்களுடன், மாண்புமிகு தமிழ்நாடு முதலமைச்சர் திரு. ச. ஜோசப் விஜய் அவர்களின் தலைமையிலான புதிய அமைச்சரவையின் குழு… pic.twitter.com/F3eQKCpir1
— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) May 21, 2026
The TVK government is surviving with the support of other DMK allies like the VCK, Communists and IUML, which were expected to get berths in today’s expansion, but for reasons best known to them, it could not happen.
The Communists have already made it clear that they would give outside support and refused to join the government.
TTV Dhinakaran’s lone AMMK MLA, Kamaraj, switched loyalty to TVK and was expelled.
CM Joseph, along with nine ministers, had earlier taken oath on May 10 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. His cabinet was expected to be expanded soon. However, a splinter faction of AIADMK leaders like C V Shanmugam, SP Velumani and others were holding parleys demanding 10 cabinet berths for them.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami threatened to keep the flock under his control. He is dilly-dallying on taking action against the rebel group.
Critics said that both DMK and AIADMK have been rejected by the voters. Their sharing of power with TVK is unacceptable for people who have faith in democracy. There are rumours that VCK’s Thirumavalavan allegedly bargained for a Dy CM post and another functionary, Vanniarasu, but it has not materialised. IUML also backed out at the last minute after seeking the education portfolio like their Kerala counterparts.
In this background, Chief Minister Joseph, without wasting time, expanded his cabinet today.
Of these, 21 MLAs belong to the TVK, while two ministers are from Congress.
It is learnt that CM Vijay has kept one berth each for the VCK and the IUML, which would join the government very soon.
It appears that CM Vijay did a balancing act in the cabinet by inducting seven ministers from Scheduled Castes, a record number, and two from the Brahmin community.
One of the netizens said, “For the first time in Tamil Nadu Assembly history, the highest number of MLAs from SC-reserved constituencies have been inducted into the cabinet.
Kamali from Avinashi (SC), Mathan Raja from Ottapidaram (SC), V. Gandhiraj from Arakkonam (SC), Lokesh Tamilselvan D. from Rasipuram (SC), Tennarasu from Sriperumbudur (SC), and Raj Mohan from Egmore (SC).
Apart from them, Viswanathan of the Congress, who won from a general constituency, has also been inducted, taking the SC minister count to seven. If a VCK MLA is included, the tally would rise to eight.”
For the first time in Tamil Nadu assembly history, the highest number of MLAs from SC-reserved constituencies have been inducted into the cabinet.
Kamali from Avinashi (SC), Mathan Raja from Ottapidaram (SC), V. Gandhiraj from Arakkonam (SC), Lokesh Tamilselvan D. from…
— Prabhakar Tamilarasu || பிரபாகர் தமிழரசு (@pkr_madras) May 21, 2026
Another, while welcoming the expansion, said, “He has killed the INDI Alliance. He has killed VCK as well. He has killed the unholy Missionary Nexus with DMK. He has taken away women’s votes from DMK. I am glad that DMK/VCK, the two most dangerous political dispensations, are decimated. @INCIndia gets a lease of life in Tamil Nadu, which needs careful scrutiny.”
The Expansion of @actorvijay @TVKVijayHQ @CMOTamilnadu in it's new form is a big welcome.
He has killed INDI Alliance
He has killed VCK as well
He has killed the unholy Missionary Nexus with DMK
He has taken away women votes from DMKNegatives:
1. Christians thinking and…
— Kalyan Raman (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@KalyaanBJP_) May 21, 2026
By inducting 23 ministers and leaving one berth each for the VCK and the IUML, CM Joseph has shut the doors on the AIADMK rebels who were hoping to join the ministry. TVK weighed that if corrupt AIADMK leaders were taken in, it would dent its fight against corruption and invite criticism of horse-trading.
Meanwhile, Advocate Narender Kumar Verma, on behalf of Madurai resident KK Ramesh, has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the trust vote held in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on May 13, in which the TVK-led government headed by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay secured a majority.
A writ petition has been filed in the #SupremeCourt seeking @CBIHeadquarters investigation into the alleged irregularities and corruption in the trust vote won by @TVKVijayHQ in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
The petitioner seeks President's @rashtrapatibhvn rule till then. pic.twitter.com/0plR12jZjw
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 20, 2026
The petitioner has stated that the alleged irregularities in the trust vote process violated the constitutional rights of voters and residents of Tamil Nadu by compromising democratic governance and legislative integrity.
The most important development in this is that the Congress party, which was out of power for nearly six decades in Tamil Nadu, is now sharing power with TVK, though it had contested against TVK in the Assembly elections.
Critics argue that the Congress party has historically been accused of betraying the people both while in power and in opposition, and that this is one of the reasons it has remained out of power politics in Tamil Nadu. It is also noteworthy that the Congress party is part of governments in Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala, while now sharing power in Tamil Nadu as well.
