Congress’ 59-Year Wait In Tamil Nadu Ends As Two MLAs Set To Join Vijay's Cabinet

Last Updated:May 20, 2026, 19:12 IST

MLAs Rajesh Kumar and P. Vishwanathan will be sworn in as ministers in the Tamil Nadu cabinet led by C. Joseph Vijay.

The 59-year wait for Congress will finally end on Thursday as two party MLAs will join the Tamil Nadu government.

Congress general secretary (Organisation) K. C. Venugopal announced that MLAs Rajesh Kumar and P. Vishwanathan will be sworn in as ministers in the Tamil Nadu cabinet led by C. Joseph Vijay.

Venugopal described the development as a historic moment for the party, noting that the Congress would be part of the Tamil Nadu government for the first time in 59 years.

He said this marks a historic occasion for us, as the Congress joins the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a long gap of 59 years.

“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 Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi ji," Venugopal added.

The development is being viewed as a major political shift in Tamil Nadu, where the Congress has traditionally played the role of a junior alliance partner to Dravidian parties for decades without direct participation in the state cabinet.

This time, however, the Congress broke away from its long-standing alignment with the Dravidian majors and joined hands with C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to help form the government in the state.

In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, the TVK emerged as the single largest party but fell 10 seats short of the majority mark of 118. The Congress, CPI, CPI(M), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) subsequently extended support to the Vijay-led government, paving the way for the formation of the coalition administration.

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