New Delhi: In what is a nail-biting finish to a three-day saga engineered by the Tamil Nadu governor, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay has been able to take oath as the chief minister of the state today.Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy today at Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. There were loud cheers from supporters gathered at the venue.Vijay said, “This is a new beginning. A new era of real, secular, social justice starts now.”Reports say that the Vande Mataram, National Anthem, and Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu were played before the ceremony began.The nine ministers who were administered oath along with Vijay were N. Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, K.G. Arunraj, K.A. Sengottaiyan, P. Venkataramanan, R. Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan, T.K. Prabhu and S. Keerthana.The first three measures Vijay is reported to have signed off on are 200 units of free power supply, a special task force to tackle drugs, and a special force for women’s protection.Congress MP and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi was also present. The Congress snapped its decades-long ties with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party under Stalin to side with Vijay in forming the government in Tamil Nadu.In this image received on May 10, 2026, Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi being received by party leaders as he arrives to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, at Chennai International Airport, in Chennai. Photo: AICC via PTI.In the days leading up to today’s swearing-in, Vijay had been frantic in an effort to cobble together enough MLAs to go over the majority mark of 118 in the Tamil Nadu assembly. Many criticised Governor Arlekar’s refusal to invite Vijay to form the government so he could prove majority in the assembly until he was able to show him support from as many legislators.Six days ago, TVK emerged as the single-largest party after the state elections in which DMK lost. TVK won in 108 seats. Eventual support of two MLAs each from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the Indian Union Muslim League, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – along with five from the Congress – was able to take his alliance’s tally to 121.Congratulations have poured in for Vijay.Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is among those who have wished him well:“Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu are connected through history, culture, enterprise, and enduring people-to-people ties across generations. Our future holds immense economic promise and opportunity as Sri Lanka and India continue to build ever closer ties and a stronger partnership.“I look forward to working together, within the strong India–Sri Lanka partnership, towards greater prosperity and progress.The people of Sri Lanka join me in wishing you and the people of Tamil Nadu every success.”PM Narendra Modi said in a post on X, “Congratulations to Thiru C. Joseph Vijay on taking oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. Best wishes for his tenure ahead. The Central Government will keep working with the Tamil Nadu Government to improve the lives of people.”