Chennai, May 13:
Minutes after winning the Assembly floor test, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay revoked the appointment of his personal astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (Political), following widespread criticism.
Radhan Pandit, who had predicted a “tsunami victory” for Vijay ahead of the Assembly elections, was appointed to the post a day earlier. He was seen as part of TVK’s campaign ecosystem and had also acted as a party spokesperson, maintaining close ties with the Chief Minister.
The appointment triggered sharp reactions during Assembly proceedings, with leaders from both opposition and allied parties raising objections. Critics argued that appointing an astrologer to a government post undermined scientific temper and sent the wrong message, especially to younger generations.
Political leaders including Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil, CPI(M) and CPI representatives questioned the rationale behind granting an official role to a personal astrologer, particularly one funded by public resources.
The controversy quickly escalated across political circles, prompting the government to withdraw the appointment within hours of securing the confidence vote.
Radhan Pandit has claimed past associations with former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, stating he had advised her on electoral strategies and key political decisions during her tenure.