Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Drops Astrologer from OSD Post After Trust Vote Win

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has removed astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vetrivel from his post as Officer on Special Duty (OSD), just moments after comfortably winning a floor test in the state Assembly with 144 votes. The decision, announced on Wednesday, follows mounting criticism from opposition parties and key supporters of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

The appointment had drawn sharp rebukes, particularly from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which props up the TVK-led government from outside with its two MLAs. Ahead of the confidence motion, VCK MLA Vani Arasu stressed that the government ought to champion scientific thinking, not astrology. Nevertheless, the VCK stopped short of withdrawing its support, expressing faith in Mr Vijay's leadership and predicting the government would serve its full five-year term.

The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), a key coalition ally, also condemned the move. Its sole MLA, Premalatha Vijaykanth, argued that appointing an astrologer as OSD sent the wrong message to the public. "If he is your guru, keep him in a personal capacity," she said, urging the Chief Minister to consider the example being set for young people. The state's lone BJP MLA, Bhojrajan M, echoed these concerns, warning that such appointments set a poor precedent.

The fiercest attack came from the opposition DMK. Party spokesperson TKS Elangovan sarcastically remarked that the Assembly and Parliament would soon be redundant, with timings dictated by astrologers. He added that Mr Vijay appeared to trust Vetrivel more than his own party workers.

Vetrivel, hailing from Erode, was once a trusted adviser to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, though their association reportedly ended after one of his major predictions failed to materialise. His brief tenure as OSD has now concluded amid a storm of political and scientific objection.