'Vande Mataram' at Vijay's oath-taking: Row in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Fresh controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu immediately after Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister, with opposition parties accusing his government of undermining Tamil identity during the swearing-in ceremony. The row broke out after “Vande Mataram” was played instead of the traditional Tamil Thai Valthu at the event held at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Communist Party of India strongly criticised the move, alleging that Vijay was attempting to appease the BJP by sidelining Tamil cultural traditions. Critics argued that even in states like West Bengal, “Vande Mataram” is not made mandatory during swearing-in ceremonies, making the change in Tamil Nadu politically suspicious. CPI leaders said official state functions and Assembly events traditionally begin with Tamil Thai Valthu and accused the new administration of breaking long-standing state protocol.

Responding to the criticism, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam released videos from the 2021 swearing-in ceremony of former Chief Minister MK Stalin, claiming that “Vande Mataram” had also been played during the Governor’s ceremony at that time. TVK dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

Soon after taking the oath from Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Vijay made several populist announcements, including 200 units of free electricity every month and the formation of a special squad for women’s safety. He also promised strict anti-drug measures, transparent governance and a white paper on the state’s finances, accusing the previous DMK government of leaving Tamil Nadu under a debt burden of ₹10 lakh crore.

Vijay said he came from an ordinary background and understood poverty and hunger, describing politics as his attempt to repay the people who supported his rise in cinema. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated Vijay, while Rahul Gandhi attended the ceremony. Congress also joined the Tamil Nadu cabinet for the first time since 1967.