The swearing-in ceremony of C. Joseph Vijay as Tamil Nadu's 13th Chief Minister at the JN Indoor Stadium in Chennai on May 10, 2026, drew a remarkable gathering of national political figures — underscoring the strategic importance of the TVK government both to the national Opposition and to Tamil Nadu's own political realignment.
Notable Attendees
- Mallikarjun Kharge — President, Indian National Congress
- Rahul Gandhi — Leader of Opposition, Lok Sabha
- Udhayanidhi Stalin — Deputy CM, Tamil Nadu (outgoing DMK government)
- Multiple state Chief Ministers from INDIA alliance parties
- VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan · IUML leadership
- CPI and CPI(M) state leaders
- Film personalities, industry leaders and diaspora representatives
The Congress Connection
Congress's high-profile presence at the swearing-in reflected the party's strategic investment in the TVK alliance. Congress won 5 seats in the 2026 election on the TVK alliance platform — and two Congress MLAs (S. Rajesh Kumar and P. Viswanathan) received cabinet berths in the May 21 Phase 2 expansion, marking Congress's return to Tamil Nadu's state cabinet for the first time in 59 years.
Outgoing Government's Grace
Udhayanidhi Stalin's attendance — representing the outgoing DMK government that TVK had just defeated — was widely praised as a sign of democratic maturity. The elder Stalin was not present, but Udhayanidhi's participation gave the transition a tone of political civility rare in modern Indian electoral politics.
Scale of the Event
Over 50,000 supporters filled the JN Indoor Stadium. TVK party workers lined the streets of Chennai from the early hours. The ceremony was broadcast live across Tamil satellite channels and streamed online — drawing viewership comparable to major film releases.