Tamil NaduIndian National CongressTamilaga Vettri KazhagamRahul GandhiC. Joseph Vijay
Congress MLAs Left Out of Tamil Nadu Cabinet Despite Rahul Gandhi's Presence at Swearing-In
Published: May 10, 2026
Loading article...
Loading article...
Congress legislators were not inducted into the Tamil Nadu Cabinet during Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's swearing-in ceremony in Chennai on May 10, 2026, even as party leader Rahul Gandhi attended the event. The omission marks a delay in formalizing the Congress's role in the new TVK-led government, despite its alliance contribution in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
Party sources confirmed that Congress sought ministerial berths for Melur MLA P. Viswanathan and Legislature Party leader S. Rajeshkumar. The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) proposed swearing in one Congress MLA immediately and deferring the second to a later cabinet expansion. Congress leadership rejected the proposal, insisting both leaders be sworn in together, citing Rajeshkumar's three-time MLA status and Viswanathan's seniority as a former MP.
TVK indicated plans to include other alliance partners, including dissident factions of the AIADMK not aligned with Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in the upcoming cabinet expansion. Sources stated that all coalition partners, including Congress, would be accommodated collectively in a subsequent swearing-in. The delay is seen as a strategic coordination decision rather than a breakdown in ties.
Senior Congress leaders expressed disappointment that Gandhi did not secure immediate oaths for their nominees during his presence at the ceremony, which they said would have projected unity and strength. The party and TVK are expected to finalize ministerial allocations ahead of the first Cabinet meeting, scheduled for later this week.