A fresh political controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu after the order of state song and national anthem was again reversed during a swearing-in ceremony, triggering criticism from opposition parties and coalition partners. The issue centres on the placement of the Tamil invocation song “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu” during official government events, which was played last instead of first at a ceremony where 23 MLAs took oath as ministers. The incident comes just days after a similar row at the swearing-in of actor-turned-politician Vijay as Chief Minister.

The earlier controversy began when “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu” was played after the national song “Vande Mataram” and the national anthem “Jana Gana Mana” during an official event. The deviation from long-standing protocol triggered strong objections from political allies, who insisted that the Tamil state song must be given precedence in all government functions. Following criticism, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) had assured that the Tamil anthem would be played first in future events.

However, the latest swearing-in ceremony reignited the dispute after the Tamil anthem was once again played last. The TVK clarified that the event was organised by the Raj Bhavan (Governor’s office) and claimed the state government had no direct role in deciding the sequence. Party leader Nanjil Sampath stated that future state government events would follow the earlier convention of playing the Tamil anthem first, followed by the national anthem.

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Opposition parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), strongly criticised the incident, accusing the ruling alliance of failing to uphold assurances given after the earlier controversy. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai questioned the government’s consistency, alleging that promises made to respect Tamil cultural protocol had not been fulfilled. The Communist Party of India (CPI) also called the incident a violation of established convention and demanded accountability over the procedural lapse.

The issue has also drawn reactions from coalition partners, including the Congress, which termed the incident “very unfair” and attributed the confusion to decisions influenced by the Governor’s office and central directives. Congress leaders argued that Tamil Nadu’s established practice places “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu” at the beginning of official events, followed by the national anthem, and said the reversal had hurt regional sentiment.

Adding further complexity, the Union government’s directive mandating the full rendition of “Vande Mataram” at official events has intensified the debate over ceremonial order in state functions. While some parties oppose its inclusion in Tamil Nadu events, others argue for adherence to national protocol. Amid the growing political friction, leaders such as MDMK general secretary Vaiko have urged the state government to ensure Tamil anthem precedence and avoid what they describe as repeated procedural disputes.

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