Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay Expands Cabinet, Adding VCK and IUML Ministers

On 22 May 2026, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay increased his cabinet to 34 members, inducting Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) MLA Vanni Arasu and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader A M Shah Jahan as ministers. Their oath‑taking raised the number of Dalit ministers to eight, the highest proportionate representation in the state’s history.

The expansion follows the swearing‑in of 23 legislators the previous day, including two Indian National Congress MLAs – the first time Congress has joined a Tamil Nadu ruling coalition since 1967. The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, which won 108 seats in the recent assembly election, continues to lead the government, with the new cabinet comprising a mix of first‑time MLAs and a few senior figures.