May 21, 2026 became a date written in Tamil Nadu's political history. For the first time since 1967 — a gap of 59 years — the Indian National Congress had ministers in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet. CM C. Joseph Vijay inducted Congress MLAs S. Rajesh Kumar (Tourism, Killiyoor) and P. Viswanathan (Higher Education, Melur) in the Phase 2 cabinet expansion.
- Last Congress CM of Tamil Nadu: M. Bhaktavatsalam (1963–1967)
- Years Congress was absent from TN cabinet: 59 years
- S. Rajesh Kumar — Tourism Minister, Killiyoor constituency, Kanniyakumari
- P. Viswanathan — Higher Education Minister, Melur constituency, Madurai
- Congress won 5 Assembly seats in 2026 (as part of DMK alliance, later backed TVK)
- KC Venugopal (Congress General Secretary): "Historic occasion for the party"
- Congress MP Manickam Tagore: "A new chapter in Tamil Nadu politics"
59 Years of Absence — Why?
Congress governed Tamil Nadu from 1952 to 1967 — through Chief Ministers C. Rajagopalachari, K. Kamaraj and M. Bhaktavatsalam. Then, in 1967, the DMK swept to power in a landmark election that ended Congress dominance in Tamil Nadu forever. For the next six decades, Tamil Nadu politics was a two-party battle between DMK and AIADMK — and Congress remained a junior partner in the DMK alliance, never receiving cabinet representation despite multiple governments.
Even during the 2006–11 DMK government — when Congress was part of the ruling UPA at the Centre — Congress was denied cabinet berths in Tamil Nadu. Vijay changed that in his very first cabinet expansion.
Vijay Honoured His Alliance Commitment
The Congress switch from DMK to TVK was a critical political event in April–May 2026. Congress contested under the DMK alliance but, after TVK's landslide win, backed the Vijay government. Vijay's decision to give Congress two cabinet berths — including a prominent Higher Education portfolio — was widely seen as honouring the alliance commitment and absorbing a key national party into his governance coalition.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and others hailed it as the beginning of "a new chapter" in the party's relationship with Tamil Nadu politics, crediting Vijay for inclusive governance.
The Phase 2 Cabinet — Full Picture
The May 21 expansion inducted 23 new ministers, growing the cabinet to 35 total (including CM Vijay). Four women ministers were inducted in Phase 2. The expanded cabinet also added a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Ministry — the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu — assigned to R. Kumar (Velachery). K. Vignesh (Kinathukadavu) took over the crucial Prohibition and Excise portfolio, directly responsible for completing the TASMAC reduction promise.