Tamil Nadu Today: Cabinet expansion brings Congress back in government

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Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar presenting a flower bouquet to the newly sworn-in Minister A. Srinath (Thoothukudi MLA in the presence of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at Lok Bhavan in Chennai on May 21, 2026 | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamil Nadu Cabinet expanded from 10 to 33 with the induction of 23 new MLAs, including two from the Congress, making it the State’s first coalition government since 1952.

Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Ministers-designate at Lok Bhavan in Chennai. With the induction of Congress MLAs into the Cabinet, the national party has joined the government after 59 years.

Following the induction, the portfolios of some existing Ministers have been revised and the newly-inducted Ministers have been assigned their respective departments. K.A. Sengottaiyan, who was earlier Finance Minister and has now been redesignated as Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management.

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has nominated A.M. Shahjahan (Papanasam MLA), to join the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay. The induction will take place later.

The party’s national president K.M. Kader Mohideen said even though his party had extended unconditional support, the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) government came forward to offer a ministerial berth.

He added that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M.K. Stalin had called him and congratulated the IUML on its decision to join the government. Asked whether the IUML was still part of the DMK alliance or had switched over to the TVK alliance, he said, “Now we are joining the government and it has nothing to do with the alliance formed during the election,” he said, adding it was the duty of his party to defend the government.”

Former Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly P. Dhanapal announced he was no longer with the AIADMK.

After attending the swearing-in of his son and Rasipuram’s