Vijay Expands Tamil Nadu Cabinet to 32 Ministers, Retains Home and Youth Welfare Portfolios

With the latest expansion, the Vijay-led Cabinet now comprises 32 ministers. Under constitutional provisions, the Tamil Nadu government can have a maximum of 35 ministers, equivalent to 15 percent of the 234-member Assembly. Political space has reportedly been kept open for two alliance partners, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and the Indian Union Muslim League, both of which are yet to confirm participation in the government.

After administering the oath of office to the new ministers, Chief Minister Vijay announced the portfolio allocations and introduced significant changes to several departments assigned earlier. Vijay retained the crucial Home portfolio along with General Administration, Special Programme Implementation, Poverty Alleviation and Rural Indebtedness, Youth Welfare, and Urban and Water Supply departments.

The decision to keep the Police and Home portfolio under his direct control reflects Vijay’s emphasis on law and order and women’s safety, issues that formed a central part of his election campaign. Retaining the Youth Welfare department is also being viewed as a strategic message to younger voters, who played a decisive role in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s electoral success.

N Marie Wilson was assigned the Finance, Planning and Development portfolio after the Finance department was reassigned from senior leader KA Sengottaiyan, who will now oversee Revenue and Disaster Management.

Among the notable inductions were two Congress legislators. Rajesh Kumar S was sworn in as Tourism Minister, while P Viswanathan was entrusted with the Higher Education portfolio.

The complete ministerial allocation announced by the Chief Minister includes N Anand handling Rural Development, Panchayats and Panchayat Union, and Irrigation; R Nirmalkumar taking charge of Energy Resources and Law; Srinath overseeing Fisheries; Kamali S managing Animal Husbandry; and C Vijayalakshmi leading Milk and Dairy Development.

RV Ranjithkumar was assigned Forests, while Vinoth received the Agriculture portfolio. Rajeev was entrusted with Environment and Climate Change, and B Rajkumar took charge of Housing and Urban Development. V Gandhiraj will oversee Co-operation, while Mathan Raja P has been allocated MSMEs, Rural, Cottage and Small Industries.

Jegadeshwari K was appointed Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment. M Vijay Balaji will head Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi, while Logesh Tamilselvan D has been assigned Commercial Taxes and Registration. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban A received the Transport portfolio, and Ramesh will oversee Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments.

Kumar R has been given charge of Artificial Intelligence, Information Technology and Digital Services, highlighting the government’s focus on technological expansion and digital governance. Thennarasu K will head Non-Resident Tamils Welfare, while V Sampath Kumar has been assigned Backward Classes Welfare. Mohamed Farvas J will oversee Labour Welfare and Skill Development, D Sarathkumar will manage Human Resources Management, and Vignesh K has been entrusted with the Prohibition and Excise department.

The Cabinet expansion marks a major administrative step for the newly elected government as Vijay consolidates political authority while balancing alliance considerations and governance priorities. The retention of key portfolios by the Chief Minister and the inclusion of coalition representatives underline the government’s attempt to combine political stability with administrative control during the early phase of its tenure.