‘I Will Be The Only Centre Of Power’: Vijay’s Strong Message In First Speech As Tamil Nadu CM

Actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay marked the beginning of his tenure as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister with a strong message on accountability, transparency and governance, introducing himself as a "common man" who rose without any political lineage. Addressing supporters after taking oath in Chennai on Saturday, the 51-year-old TVK chief said the people had accepted him because he came from ordinary roots and not from a "royal family" background.

In his first speech as chief minister, Vijay promised to usher in what he described as a "new era of real, secular, social justice" while assuring people that his government would focus on honest governance rather than empty promises.

Vijay Says He Alone Will Be Accountable

Making a significant political statement early into his tenure, Vijay declared that there would be only one power centre in the government.

"There will be no power centre other than me. I will be the only centre of power," the actor-politician said while acknowledging the affectionate titles "Mama" and "Thambi" given to him by supporters.

The remark was widely seen as a message that the TVK-led government would function independently without interference from alliance partners. Vijay also urged the public to give his administration reasonable time before judging its performance, insisting that he would not mislead citizens with unrealistic assurances.

First Decisions Focus On Welfare And Women's Safety

Soon after assuming office, Vijay signed his first set of government files, approving 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers and announcing the formation of a dedicated special force for women's safety.

The measures reflected the priorities the new government intends to focus on during its initial phase in office. Vijay also indicated that transparency in governance would remain important under his administration and said he was considering releasing a white paper on Tamil Nadu's financial position.

The new chief minister's election affidavit had revealed a total net worth of Rs 624 crore, including Rs 213 crore held in savings accounts and Rs 100 crore invested in fixed deposits across various banks.

Blend Of Experience And Youth In Vijay's Cabinet

Vijay's first cabinet consists of nine ministers and includes a combination of senior political figures and younger leaders from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Veteran leader KA Sengottaiyan has been included alongside younger faces such as Dr TK Prabhu and S Keerthana. Several members of Vijay's close political circle, including Aadhav Arjuna, N Anand, R Nirmal Kumar and KG Arunraj, also took oath as ministers.

Interestingly, despite Congress being the first major party to back the TVK during government formation talks, no leader from Rahul Gandhi's party found a place in the new Tamil Nadu cabinet.

PM Modi Congratulates Vijay

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vijay after the swearing-in ceremony and assured cooperation between the Centre and the new Tamil Nadu government.

The Prime Minister said the Union government would continue working with the state administration to improve the lives of people in Tamil Nadu, signalling a willingness to maintain coordination despite political differences.