Congress's 59-year exile in Tamil Nadu ends, two MLAs join Vijay Cabinet
Congress MLAs Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan joined Chief Minister Vijay's cabinet on Thursday. Their induction brings the party into the Tamil Nadu government for the first time in 59 years.
Ending the exile of 59 years, the Congress party on Thursday joined the Tamil Nadu Cabinet as two of its MLAs – Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan – took oath as ministers in the CM Vijay-led government. The historic moment coincided with the 35th death anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur in 1991.
Earlier, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal announced that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had approved the induction of Kumar and Vishwanathan into the Tamil Nadu Cabinet.
“I convey my best wishes to them. We are confident that they will deliver on the hopes and aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu, and will work to realise the bold vision of welfare and pro-people governance laid down by LoP Rahul Gandhi ji,” he said.
From 1952 to 1967, the Congress ruled Tamil Nadu, then known as Madras state, under chief ministers C Rajagopalachari, K Kamaraj and M Bhaktavatsalam. The first provincial election after Independence took place in 1952.
However, after the DMK came to power in 1967, the Congress remained out of the Tamil Nadu government despite aligning at different times with both the DMK and the AIADMK. Between 1967 and 2026, the party never became part of the state government.
During the 2006-11 DMK regime, the Congress unsuccessfully sought a share in power.
The Congress currently has five MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly after contesting the recently concluded Assembly elections in alliance with the DMK.
However, the Congress walked out of the DMK-led alliance following the election results declared on May 4 and extended support to actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay’s TVK government.
Vijay’s TVK fell short of a majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, following which the Congress backed the party in government formation.
Ending the exile of 59 years, the Congress party on Thursday joined the Tamil Nadu Cabinet as two of its MLAs – Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan – took oath as ministers in the CM Vijay-led government. The historic moment coincided with the 35th death anniversary of former PM Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur in 1991.
Earlier, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal announced that Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had approved the induction of Kumar and Vishwanathan into the Tamil Nadu Cabinet.
“I convey my best wishes to them. We are confident that they will deliver on the hopes and aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu, and will work to realise the bold vision of welfare and pro-people governance laid down by LoP Rahul Gandhi ji,” he said.
From 1952 to 1967, the Congress ruled Tamil Nadu, then known as Madras state, under chief ministers C Rajagopalachari, K Kamaraj and M Bhaktavatsalam. The first provincial election after Independence took place in 1952.
However, after the DMK came to power in 1967, the Congress remained out of the Tamil Nadu government despite aligning at different times with both the DMK and the AIADMK. Between 1967 and 2026, the party never became part of the state government.
During the 2006-11 DMK regime, the Congress unsuccessfully sought a share in power.
The Congress currently has five MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly after contesting the recently concluded Assembly elections in alliance with the DMK.
However, the Congress walked out of the DMK-led alliance following the election results declared on May 4 and extended support to actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay’s TVK government.
Vijay’s TVK fell short of a majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, following which the Congress backed the party in government formation.
