Tamil Nadu’s cabinet expansion ceremony briefly turned dramatic after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar interrupted a newly inducted Congress minister for deviating from the prescribed constitutional oath. The swearing in later saw several ministers raise political slogans, adding a partisan tone to the formal proceedings…reports Asian Lite News Desk
A brief interruption during the Tamil Nadu cabinet expansion ceremony on Thursday drew attention after Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar corrected newly inducted Congress minister S. Rajesh Kumar for deviating from the prescribed constitutional oath during the swearing in at Lok Bhavan in Chennai.
Rajesh Kumar, Congress Legislature Party leader and MLA from Killiyoor constituency, was among the ministers inducted into Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s government during the first expansion of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led administration.
His induction also marked the Congress party’s return to the Tamil Nadu Cabinet after several decades.
During the ceremony, Rajesh Kumar began reading the official oath text placed before him. However, while reciting the oath, he briefly departed from the approved wording and hailed senior Congress leaders K. Kamaraj, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
The unscripted remarks prompted an immediate intervention from Governor Arlekar, who observed that the comments did not form part of the constitutional oath.
“That is not part of your oath,” the Governor told the minister designate during the ceremony.
Following the interruption, an official approached Rajesh Kumar and pointed him towards the approved text placed before him. The Congress leader then resumed the oath taking and completed the process in accordance with the prescribed format.
The swearing in ceremony later witnessed similar expressions of political enthusiasm from some of the newly inducted ministers belonging to the ruling TVK.
A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban, MLA from Salem South, concluded his oath by raising a slogan in support of Chief Minister Vijay, who was present on the dais. He declared, “Vaazhga Thalaivar, Valarga Tamil” (Long live the leader, may Tamil prosper).
In another instance, TVK legislator Thennarasu from Sriperumbudur concluded his oath by expressing loyalty to both the party leadership and the organisation.
Although the cabinet expansion largely proceeded without disruption, the spontaneous slogans and political references briefly shifted focus from the formal constitutional proceedings to displays of party identity and political symbolism.
The cabinet expansion is the first since the TVK-led government assumed office under Chief Minister Vijay. The inclusion of Congress ministers is also being viewed as a significant political development within the ruling alliance, reflecting a broader power sharing arrangement in the state government.
Senior ministers, legislators and alliance leaders attended the ceremony, which was held under tight security arrangements at Lok Bhavan.
