Tamil Nadu expands cabinet to 35, adds VCK, IUML ministers

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay completed the expansion of his Council of Ministers on Friday, inducting two legislators from allied parties and bringing the cabinet to its constitutional maximum strength of 35 members. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Vanni Arasu of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and A.M. Shahjahan of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) at a ceremony in Chennai’s Lok Bhavan.

The inductions mark a significant political realignment, as both parties had contested the recent assembly elections as part of the opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance before extending support to the minority Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. Shahjahan has been allotted the Minorities Welfare portfolio, while Arasu will handle the Social Justice department.

This expansion finalizes the formation of Tamil Nadu’s first coalition government in decades, incorporating four allied parties: the Congress, two Left parties, the VCK, and the IUML. The Congress, which had been out of power in the state since 1967, saw two of its legislators inducted as ministers a day earlier.

The move drew a sharp reaction from...