CM Vijay Retains Home, Police; KA Sengottaiyan Gets Finance Portfolio

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Friday announced the portfolio allocation for his maiden cabinet, retaining several key departments including Home, Police, and General Administration. The allocation, approved by the governor, is being viewed as a major political signal from the newly formed TVK government, with Vijay choosing to directly oversee portfolios linked to governance, welfare, and administration.

According to the official notification, Vijay will handle departments such as Public, General Administration, IAS, IPS, IFS, District Revenue Officers, Police, Home, and Special Program Implementation. He has also kept Women’s Welfare, Youth Welfare, Welfare of Children, Aged and Differently Abled Persons, along with Municipal Administration and Urban and Water Supply under his direct control.

Political observers believe Vijay’s decision reflects his intention to maintain direct political ownership over welfare delivery and urban governance, especially since women and youth voters played a major role in TVK’s rise to power in the Assembly elections. The move is also seen as an attempt to build a strong public image during the early months of his government.

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Senior TVK leader N Anand has emerged as the second-most influential figure in the cabinet after being assigned Rural Development and Water Resources. His responsibilities include Panchayats, poverty alleviation programs, rural indebtedness, and irrigation projects. Aadhav Arjuna has been given the Public Works and Sports Development ministries, including Buildings, Highways, and Minor Ports.

Former IRS officer Dr. KG Arunraj has been appointed Health Minister and will oversee medical education and family welfare. In a politically significant move, expelled AIADMK veteran K.A. Sengottaiyan has been entrusted with the finance portfolio along with pensions and pension allowances. Selvi S. Keerthana, the youngest member of the cabinet and its only woman minister, has become Tamil Nadu’s first woman industries minister.

Several major portfolios, including Transport, Revenue, Agriculture, Housing, Information Technology, and Tourism, are yet to be allocated, fuelling speculation of a future cabinet expansion to accommodate allies. TVK formed the government after winning 108 seats in the Assembly election with support from coalition partners and rebel AIADMK MLAs, while Vijay has also resigned from the Tiruchy East constituency, one of the two seats he had won.

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