Vijay-Led TVK Govt's MLA Creates History, Becomes First-Ever...

The Oath That Made History: On May 10, 2026, S. Keerthana — a 29-year-old first-time MLA — was sworn in as one of the youngest ministers in Chief Minister Vijay's inaugural cabinet, with Rahul Gandhi watching from the dais at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai. A political career that didn't exist three years ago had just reached its highest point.

From A Government School Bench To The Cabinet Chair: Born in 1996 in Virudhunagar district, Keerthana is the daughter of Sampath. She did her schooling entirely in Tamil medium at a government school, before going on to earn a B.Sc. in Mathematics and then an M.Sc. in Statistics from Pondicherry Central University — a trajectory that makes her rise feel all the more extraordinary.

She Cracked A Wall That Stood For 70 Years: Keerthana made history by becoming the first-ever woman MLA elected from the Sivakasi constituency — often called the "Fireworks Capital of India" — breaking nearly seven decades of male dominance in the region. She didn't just win a seat; she ended an era.

The Strategist Who Became The Candidate: Before joining TVK, Keerthana worked as a political consultant, collaborating with several top-tier leaders including M.K. Stalin. She was also involved in election campaigns for the Telugu Desam Party, Trinamool Congress, and DMK — making her switch to frontline politics a calculated leap, not a lucky break.

11,670 Votes Over A Congress Veteran: She defeated Congress candidate G. Ashokan by 11,670 votes, securing 68,809 votes in total in her debut assembly election. Her win was the first test of whether TVK could trust young, non-dynastic faces — and she passed it convincingly.

The Hindi Speech That Lit Up Tamil Nadu: Speaking to ANI in Hindi after her win, Keerthana said, "I want to spread my party's representation everywhere, all over India, even in other countries. That's why I am speaking in Hindi." In a state where Dravidian parties have historically opposed Hindi, the move drew both praise for her reach and sharp criticism — turning a post-election interview into a statewide debate.

"No Other State Would Give Us This Chance": After taking oath, Keerthana told PTI: "It's unreal because no other state would even have such a kind of Cabinet Minister. Nobody would give us such a chance. We are going to show the world how well we can run the government." At 29, she is not only the youngest minister but also the sole woman in the first batch of Vijay's cabinet — a story still very much in its first chapter.