Chennai, May 20:
Scripting a new chapter that was never witnessed in Tamil Nadu political history, the state will see its first-ever coalition regime with Chief Minister and TVK Founder C. Joseph Vijay expected to expand his cabinet on Thursday, when its newfound ally, the Congress, will make its entry into government after more than half a century, 59 years to be precise.
This will be the first coalition government of Tamil Nadu, heralding a new era in governance. Vijay is walking the talk by sharing power with the allies.
What the National party had failed to broach it in 2006 when the DMK fell short of majority and completed its full five year term with the outside support of Congress and other allies, has now ensured that it did not miss the bus this time, taking Vijay’s offer with both hands of being part of his Council of Ministers, realising a long dream.
It has been more than a week since Vijay took over office as Chief Minister along with nine other Ministers, all from the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and as such, the expansion is long overdue.
Since, Governor VR Arlekar is arriving from Kerala on Wednesday evening, the expansion of the Ministry is expected on Thursday.
The Congress, with five legislators, is likely to get two Ministerial berths. While Congress Legislature Party Leader S Rajeshkumar appears to be a certainty, there is a tough contest for the other slot reportedly between P Viswanathan, a camp follower of P Chidambaramm and Tharagai Cuthbert, a woman legislator, marking the Natioinal party’s entry into the Cabinet for the first time ever since the Kamaraj government was dethroned in 1967 polls, heralding the emergence of Dravidian duopoly, which was ended by Vijay in the recent Assembly elections.
Without any hesitation to break its ties with the DMK, the grand old party was the first to pledge support to the TVK of Vijay, which was short of a majority. having emerged as the single largest party. Besides two Ministerial berths, the Congress is also expected to secure a Rajya Sabha seat, which was vacated by rebel AIADMK Legislator C Ve Shanmugam. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) of Thol Thirumavalavan, which has extended unconditional ‘outside’ support like the Left Parties and the IUML, is also expected to join the Ministry, though a clear picture has not emerged,
According to sources, what had been dragging the ministerial expansion is the rift in the AIADMK, riddled with rebellion, defying any resolution in the near future. The rebel faction led by former Ministers and heavyweights Shanmugam, SP Velumani and C Vijayabhaskar, had supported the trust vote against the party directive and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had approached the Speaker to disqualify the 25 legislators.
According to legal experts, there is no impediment for Vijay to induct some from the rebels into his ministry. But the talks on accommodating them has taken time.
Further, there is jostling within the TVK for ministerial berths. The TVK is believed to have a lion’s share of the cabinet.