Meet Vijay's new Cabinet: Ex-IRS officer, 29-year-old actor among initial picks

The list includes a 29-year-old MLA, who will become the youngest minister in the cabinet, a doctor and an ex-IRS officer, and seven other leaders. All ministers in the first list are from the TVK, with no Congress leader included.

In Short

• Vijay announced the first ministers before a landmark Tamil Nadu swearing-in
• The initial Cabinet list features only TVK leaders, excluding Congress names
• A 29-year-old MLA is set to become the Cabinet's youngest minister

Actor-turned-politician Vijay unveiled the initial list of ministers who took oath alongside him in a historic swearing-in ceremony marking a new chapter in Tamil Nadu politics after decades of Dravidian party dominance. The list includes a 29-year-old MLA, who became the youngest minister in the cabinet, a doctor, a dentist, an ex-IRS officer and six other leaders. All ministers in the first list are from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, with no Congress leader included.

Here is the list of ministers who were sworn in alongside Vijay today:

1. N ANAND

A president of Vijay’s fan club association even before the actor launched his party, N Anand brought key logistical expertise when he eventually began building TVK. Anand became the party’s inaugural General Secretary and still continues in the role.

Anand has also emerged as one of the party’s prominent spokespersons. Ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, he publicly declared that TVK’s leader would become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. In the 2026 Assembly polls, he contested from the Thiyagarayanagar constituency in Chennai -- a seat historically dominated by the DMK and AIADMK -- and defeated DMK candidate Raja Anbazhagan by securing 51,632 votes.

2. AADHAV ARJUNA

Standing tall at 6 feet 7 inches, former national-level basketball player Aadhav Arjuna is a political strategist, philanthropist and sports administrator from Tamil Nadu. In the last elections, he was associated with MK Stalin and played a key role in the DMK’s victory.

He was elected MLA from the Villivakkam Assembly constituency in Chennai in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. Within Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, he serves as the General Secretary for Election Campaign Management, making him the highest-ranking party functionary after party president Vijay and General Secretary N Anand. He is also the President of the Basketball Federation of India.

3. S KEERTHANA

Diwali came early for the people of Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu’s fireworks hub, as 29-year-old actor S Keerthana, the newly elected Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam MLA from the constituency, is set to be sworn in today as the youngest minister in the cabinet headed by Chief Minister Vijay.

Fluent in Hindi, Keerthana has been deeply involved in grassroots political work and also worked as a political consultant, playing a role in the party’s election strategy. She holds a BSc in Mathematics and an MSc in Statistics. For workers in the fireworks industry, Keerthana has promised regular health check-ups, given the hazardous nature of working with chemicals, along with equal pay for women.

4. DR KG ARUNRAJ

Dr KG Arunraj is a physician and former Indian Revenue Service officer from Tamil Nadu. He serves as the General Secretary for Policy and Propaganda of TVK and was elected as the MLA from the Tiruchengodu assembly constituency in Namakkal district in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.

5. DR TK PRABHU

A prominent Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader, Dr TK Prabhu is an Indian dentist who won from the Karaikudi Assembly constituency.

6. KA SENGOTTAIYAN

One of the most senior leaders from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, KA Sengottaiyan sent shockwaves across Tamil Nadu when he joined hands with Vijay after being expelled from the party last year following five decades of association.

7. P VENKATARAMANAN

First-time MLA P Venkataramanan is Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s treasurer and also an advocate. He won from the crucial Mylapore Assembly constituency in Chennai. Though relatively new to active politics, he has been a long-time associate of Vijay, serving as the actor’s manager since 2000.

8. NIRMAL KUMAR

Nirmal Kumar is the Deputy General Secretary for IT and Social Media of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and won from the Thirupparankundram constituency in Madurai.

9. RAJMOHAN ARUMUGAM

An actor, stand-up comedian and motivational speaker, Rajmohan Arumugam -- who wears many hats -- won from the Egmore constituency in Chennai and will now be a minister in Vijay’s cabinet.

- Ends